Page 338 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

JESUS CHRIST

Alpha and Omega Is. 44:6 Re. 1:7-18 mystery of the Trinity. Though we do not fully
Good Shepherd Is. 40:10-11 Jn. 10:11 understand it, we believe it because it is the
Every knee bow Is. 45:23 Ph. 2:10-11 teaching of the Scriptures.
Judge Is. 24:20-21 He. 12:23 What about Verses that Seem to Say that Jesus Is Less
Reigning Is. 24:23 Mt. 25:31 Than the Father?
2. The O.T. Prophets said that the Messiah would be Mark 13:32 is a key example of this: “But of that day
God (compare Is. 7:14 and Mt. 1:23; Is. 9:6; Je. 23:5-6). and that hour knoweth no man no, not the angels which
3. Christ was proclaimed to be God at his birth (Mt. are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”
1:23; Lk. 1:17, 32, 76; 2:11). (1) Christ might have been referring to the
4. Jesus claimed to be God, and He accepted worship completeness of His union with and submission to the
from men (Mt. 2:11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; Father. “Our Saviour does not deny that the knowledge
28:9, 17; Mk. 5:6; Lk. 24:52; Jn. 5:18, 23; 8:56-59; of that day and hour dwells in fullest measure with the
9:38; 10:30-33; 20:28). The Bible teaches that it is Son, but He mysteriously intimates (in conformity with
idolatry to worship any one or any thing other than the what is found to have been His practice on many other
one true God (Mt. 4:10; Ex. 34:14; Is. 42:8). Therefore, occasions), that the Son Himself does but know because
the fact that Jesus accepted worship is indisputable of His oneness with the Father, the Fountain-head of all
evidence that he is God. The elect angels refuse to knowledge and of all being, who had reserved that
accept worship (Re. 19:10). The apostles refused secret from the holy angels themselves. He knows
worship (Acts 14:11-15). Christ, though, was repeatedly because the Father knows. He would not know, if not (ei
worshipped by those who approached Him, and not me) the Father knew” (John William Burgon, cited by
once does the Bible record that He corrected them or Edward Goulburn, John William Burgon: Late Dean of
refused worship Chichester, 1892, II, pp. 171, 72).
5. The N.T. writers said Jesus Christ is God (Jn. 1:1; (2) This verse is explained by Philippians 2:7. In the
Ac. 20:28; 10:36; Ph. 2:6; Col. 1:15; 2:9; 1 Ti. 1:15-17; incarnation, the Son of God “made himself of no
3:16; 6:14-16; He. 1:3; Tit. 2:13; 1 Jn. 3:16). reputation.” The Greek word is “kenoo,” meaning “to
6. Every man and angel will worship Jesus (Ph. empty, to abase, to make of none effect” (Strong). “In
2:9-11; He. 1:8-9). If Jesus were not God He could not his kenosis, the eternal Son dropped for the time being
receive worship (Ex. 20:3-5; 34:10; Is. 42:8; Mt. 4:10). THE EXERCISE OF certain powers and attributes, but
7. Jesus is called “Lord” 663 times in the N.T. “The He remained Himself. ... He was still God the Son in
Greek word kurios is the equivalent of the Hebrew adoni holy will, divine desire, righteous purpose, and
and is so used by Jesus in Mt. 22:43-45. That the intent immaculate love. The infinity of powers not needed or
is to identify Jesus Christ with the O.T. God is evident suited within the narrow scope of a human life, He laid
from Mt. 3:3; 12:8; 21:9 (Ps. 118:26); 22:43-45; Lk. aside. Jesus himself taught this doctrine before Paul did.
1:43; Jn. 8:58; 14:8-10; 20:28; Ac. 9:5; 13:33 (Ps. He referred more than once to His personal
2)” (Scofield). preexistence. Concerning his kenosis he said: ‘And now,
Who Called Jesus God? O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the
David called Him God (Mt. 22:43-45). glory which I had with thee before the world was’ (John
Isaiah called Him God (Is. 7:14; 9:6). 17:5). And again, ‘What and if ye shall see the Son of
Jeremiah called Him God (Je. 23:5-6). man ascend up where he was before?’ (John
Matthew called Him God (Mt. 1:23). 6:62)” (John Champion, The Virgin’s Son, 1924, pp. 88,
Christ called Himself God (Jn. 5:17-18; 8:58-59; 89). Philippians 2:5-8 plainly says Christ was in the
10:30-33; Re. 1:8). form of God and took the form of a servant. It was
The angels called Him God (Lk. 2:11). merely the form that he changed, not His Deity.
Elizabeth called Him God (Lk. 1:42-43). (3) Mark 13:32 teaches the Son’s submission to the
John called Him God (Jn. 1:1; 1 John 3:16; 5:20). Father. The Bible reveals the one God in three persons,
The blind man called Him God (Jn. 9:35-38).
Thomas called Him God (Jn. 20:28). Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are God and are co-
Peter called Him God (Acts 10:34-36). equal, but there is an order within the Godhead, so that
Paul called Him God (Acts 20:28; Ph. 2:5-6; 1 Ti. the Son submits to the Father. “The reference is perfectly
3:16; Titus 2:13). clear when one bears in mind the purpose of Mark’s
God the Father called Him God (He. 1:8-9). Gospel—to portray Jesus as the faithful Servant of
Hebrews 1:8-9 is quoted from Psalm 45, and in Jehovah. Christ says in John 15:15, ‘The servant
Psalm 45 it is obvious that Jehovah God is speaking knoweth not what his lord doeth.’ How significant that
about the Son. God the Father calls the Son God, Mark, who presents Jesus as the perfect Servant, should
and God the Son calls the Father God. This is the record this statement about the hour of His return as

338 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity