|
|
Is Jesus the Son of God?
Is Jesus the Son of God?
There is a very popular phrase in christian circles today, as people are exhorted to "come to faith". Unfortunately it is so obscure, its deftness could be dangerous. For faith does not exist in a vacuum. Faith must rest upon some words written or spoken. Charles Price once said, "The person who skates upon thin ice can have as much faith as a person who skates on thick ice"
Every sane person on the planet has faith and exercises it every single day. Much of it proves false, and often disaster follows. So we need to ask ourselves, "What does my faith rest upon?"
Our faith for eternal salvation should rest solely and only on Jesus Christ. He alone paid the debt for our sin and the bible clearly says that those who believe on Him have everlasting life. So there should not be a semblance of faith in our own good works, hiding in that professed faith.
That faith on Jesus Christ has a further resting stone, which is the "Word of God" People throughout the world have weird and wonderful things that they believe about Jesus Christ. Some things they have read in a book, been told by a preacher, or even imagined by themselves.
When it comes to sincere folk seeking to base their faith on the word of God, problems seem to arise when they come across things which they dont understand. Perhaps they dont seem logical, rational, and they just can't get their head round a certain "truth" so they reject it for a more natural interpretation.
Such people hopefully will know the text in Corinthians which tells us that "the Natural mind does not understand spiritual things". The Bible is a spiritual book. It has been "ghost written". Every writer was inspired by the Holy Ghost. There are some spiritual truths which are ONLY revealed by the Holy Ghost. Words of scripture which our eyes have seen for years suddenly are seen in our minds and especially in our hearts.
(please permit a short explanation which comes from our studies on the patterns of Three in Scripture;
Our soul comprises, Mind Heart and Will. Our heart is the centre of our Soul.
Our hearts contain our Beliefs, Emotions and Desires. Our beliefs connect in our minds, Our emotions are the centre of our heart, and our desires are expressed through our will.
So real Holy Ghost-revealed truths, echo in our hearts, the centre of our being. Itt often rattles our emotions and we "feel" different. Usually we relax from our mind exertions and restfully sigh "Oh I see it all now". If you have been born again as a child of God you will know such an experience.)
Many sincere christians fall at these hurdles of belief. Jesus said things which give may give us a hint why certain individuals may stumble over spiritual truths.
Note the little word "if", signifying a conditional promise.
John 14:22-23
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 7:17
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
So with a pure heart and childlike faith we need to submit to the Word, even if we don't understand it. when we do we will "see"
So now let's address the original question. These notes are as brief as possible and are more or less in note form.
When God became a man, he became a total man. So total that many reject his divine origin and say he was “just” or “only a man”.
Having made man in his own image, God had no problem fitting into a human body. It fitted him like a glove. In this respect Adam was a son of God. He was born of God’s pure spirit (life*) But unholy Sin caused God’s Holy spirit to leave Adam and he “died” spiritually, (cut off from God) but his flesh was kept with earthly life from Satan himself. So that since Adam all are born sinners. We are of our father the devil. We do not naturally do good. It would be folly to allow a one year old boy to wander freely around the house. We know that chaos and danger could ensue. We have to train our children to be good. (Hence John ch 3 –“ You must be born AGAIN”)
*Please note that the word “Spirit” means “Life”
As man was made “in the image of God” we can see that Man is a trinity just as God is a trinity. We don’t have a problem being three in one.
Man comprises Spirit Soul and Body. God also has these “features”
God the father is Spirit (John 4:24) (known in Old Testament as Elohim)
God the Holy Spirit is the Soul (or personality) of God. (known in the Old testament as Jehovah or Lord God)
And Jesus the Son is the visible Body of God. He is the full expression of the first two invisible persons.
Within the Father, is the Holy Spirit and the Son, Within the Holy Spirit is the Father and the Son, and within the Son is the Father and the Holy Spirit (See our studies on the “Patterns of three” for greater detail)
Therefore Jesus was able to make extraordinary statements about himself that could only be attributed to God.
The Jews put Jesus to death because they believed he was a blasphemer. He was crucified for what he said, not what he did. Yet Jesus offered his works as evidence of his divinity. Only God could raise the dead. He said he was the Resurrection and the Life. He said he was the bread of Life “come down from heaven” (John 6.:32-36.)
Even the devils recognised him and confessed that he was the Son of God (Mark 3:11; Mark 5:7: Mark 1:23 The Holy ONE of God)
Jesus said he had come from heaven (John 6:38: John 8:23)
Philip wanted to see the father and Jesus said
“He that has seen me has seen the Father” and “I and the Father are one”
John attributes to Jesus the title of “The Word”. All things were made by Him.
His name Jesus means “Jehovah Saviour” John ch 1 v 12 says we must believe “on His name” to become a child of God.
The title “God our saviour” is found in many verses. (1 Tim 1:1: Titus 1:3: Titus 2:10: Titus 3:4: Jude 1:25)
Also note, John 5:20: “even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
”The Title of Messiah” means “the anointed ONE”. Prophets Priests and Kings were anointed under the Law. No person ever had all three ministries: Only Jesus. So the word “one” is more significant than the word “anointed”.
John writes in his epistle in cha 1 Jn 5:1 “Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: “
This infers, (as in John ch 1:12), that unless a person believes in the divinity of Jesus he cannot be a child of God.
Furthermore such “unbelievers” surely must not believe a word of John’s Gospel. or John’s Revelation of Jesus at the end of the bible.
Peter confessed he was the Son of the Living God, and Jesus did not deny his confession, but rather endorsed what the Holy Spirit alone had revealed to Him.
Thomas, the doubter, was forced to bow down and worship Jesus as His Lord and His God. On judgment day Thomas could be in the witness box testifying against other doubters.
A paralysed man was brought to Jesus for healing. Jesus said to him "Your sins are forgiven". The unbelieving Jews counted that as blasphemy because only God could forgive sins. So Jesus showed them that he was indeed the son of God by telling the man to rise and walk. Which he did. The Jews had to accept that, because they firmly believed the man was paralysed because of his sins. So if his paralysis had gone, his sins must have gone. Checkmate!
The Jews tried to stone Jesus to death because he said "Before Abraham was I AM". They knew exactly what he was saying, for he had taken God's name as his own. Throughout John's Gospel we read that Jesus said " I am the bread of Life, the Resurrection and the Life, the Door of the sheepfold, the Good shepherd., the true vine, the light of the world, the way the truth and the Life. Who else but God could claim such titles?
The Jews continually asked for signs from Jesus to prove what he said about himself. He said that John the Baptist was his witness, and the Works he did were his witness as the works of God, and the Old Testament also testified of Him.
Isaiah prophesied:
Isa 9:6-7: 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
So , if we are to hold an opinion that Jesus was just a man, there is a great deal of scripture that we must disbelieve. Therefore there will be much to condemn us at the judgement. It behoves us all to know and believe the scriptures, and not be persuaded by the heretics such as Jehovah’s witnesses, who have no desire to acknowledge Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
All the bread in every supermarket is potentially useless waste, unless it is eaten.
all the promises of God in his Word are just as useless until we believe and live on them spiritually.
Jesus says in John ch 6 "I am the bread of Life come down from heaven. Moses brought bread from heaven for theIsraelites in the wilderness, but they eventually dies, but those who eat of me will live forever.
Check out these verses for yourself in John ch 6. For they state clearly that unless we believe Jesus is, who he claimed to be, we will not have everlasting life. The life of God is not in us, unless we "eat his flesh".
John 6:51-57
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me.
When we believe, we see. If the promises were obvious, and impossible to doubt, we would never need faith.
So our eternal salvation depends upon whether we believe Jesus was, and is, the Son of God. We may nor understand these verses in our minds and human intellect, but we are called to live by faith not by sight.
When we eat by faith we grow. Unless we eat we die. In the Old Testament, prosperity was based upon the continual harvest and enjoyment of Corn , Oil and Wine. This is a foretaste or type of our eating of Christ in order to prosper spiritually. The Corn and the oil made bread , so bread and wine are the essentials for prosperity in eternal things. If we cannot "see " these truths, then we may never have been truly born again of the Spirit, because the Spirit is the only person who can open one's eyes and feed our soul with spiritual food. (John 7:17)
Think again on Mark’s verses quoted above, The devils recognised his double identity- “Jesus of Nazareth“ (in the natural world) but “The Son of God” in the spiritual world.
Much more could be written in expounding this essential belief from the rest of Scripture, but one verse alone would be sufficient to bring an unbeliever to judgement. So to any Thomas's out there, bow the knee today to your God.
New Testament references:
Matt 3:17: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matt 4:3: And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matt 8:29: And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Matt 11:27: All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matt 14:33: Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God
Matt 16:16-18: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matt 17:5: While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Matt 27:43: 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Matt 27:54: Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Mark 5:7: And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
Luke 1:32: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luke 1:35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.)
Luke 4:41: And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
Luke 8:28: When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
Luke 22:70: Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
John 1:18: No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 1:34: And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John 1:49: Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:35: The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 5:19-26: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 6:40: And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:67-69: Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 8:35: And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
John 8:36: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 9:35-38: Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
John 11:4: When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John 11:27: She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
John 17:1: These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
John 20:31: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Acts 3:13: The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
64 refs to Jesus as Son of God, From Acts to Revelation (24 books)
Matt 3:17: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matt 4:3: And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matt 8:29: And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Matt 11:27: All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matt 14:33: Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God
Matt 16:16-18: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matt 17:5: While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Matt 27:43: 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Matt 27:54: Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Mark 5:7: And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
Luke 1:32: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luke 1:35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.)
Luke 4:41: And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
Luke 8:28: When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
Luke 22:70: Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
John 1:18: No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 1:34: And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John 1:49: Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:35: The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 5:19-26: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 6:40: And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:67-69: Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 8:35: And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
John 8:36: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 9:35-38: Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
John 11:4: When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John 11:27: She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
John 17:1: These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
John 20:31: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Acts 3:13: The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
64 refs to Jesus as Son of God, From Acts to Revelation (24 books)
