IS JESUS CHRIST GOD
The best way to answer this question is to understand clearly what the scriptures say about Jesus and about God. In this post and in subsequent posts, we will discuss at length the humanity of Jesus Christ as presented in the Bible and the Spirit-hood of God.
Sometime ago, I came across a social media post. The writer said for God to save Israel, he had to send Moses, Joshua and other people. The writer also went ahead to say when it came to our turn, God didn’t send anybody but came by himself.
The Bible in John 3:16 clearly tells us that God expressed his love for us BY SENDING HIS SON. John repeated it in the epistles.
1John 4:9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
It’s therefore bewildering how someone can then declare with boldness that God sent nobody but came by himself. John 1:14 is often misinterpreted to teach the error that God came by himself to die.
John 1:14
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.
The scriptures are never faulty. It is interpreters who often make mistakes. John 1:14 says ‘the Word was made (or became) flesh.’ Most preachers quote John 1:14 saying ‘the Word put on flesh.’ Some say ‘the Word took on flesh,’ while another group says ‘the Word wore flesh.’
The first (the Word was made flesh) is what the Bible says! Others are some of the very errors on which the trinity doctrine thrives.
Those who misquote by saying the Word put on or took on or wore flesh falsely present the scripture to mean that a person (who they say is also God) or a Spirit who has been existing from the beginning decided by his capacity and will to come as flesh or to cover his ‘Spirit self’ with flesh in order to come save humanity. That is, God himself decided to wear flesh/mortality in order to come down to redeem man. This opposes both old testament and new testament teachings.
Study the epistles of John (1st, 2nd and 3rd John) and also John’s account of the earthly life of Christ. John emphasized on the sonship and humanity of Jesus Christ through out.
Jesus Christ isn’t God who sent himself to come and die for man. Jesus Christ is God’s first creation (the logos of God) and the son of God by God’s choosing and ordination, sent to pay the sacrifice for sin on behalf of the whole world.
So, God made the Word flesh. He manifested his son in flesh. He brought him into being as a person; his son. The plan and intent of God for mankind was brought into reality. That was the message of John 1:14. Let’s see it again.
“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.”
The mind/intent/plan/thought of God for humanity was made to manifest as flesh.
“the only begotten of the father.” The Word ‘begotten’ in the English Bible is the Greek word ‘monogenes,’ meaning only son/daughter, only born, only child. That’s what Jesus is to God; his son, not his ‘fellow God.’
Until you stop seeing ‘God took on flesh’ or ‘God wore flesh’ or ‘God put on flesh’ in John 1:14, you won’t comprehend the message of John. ‘God made the logos to manifest as a person (his begotten son, the man Jesus Christ).
The same way we are men, mortals, that’s exactly what Jesus was. He only became immortal after the resurrection. God was intentional about bringing a man, not someone who’s God and man at the same time. Jesus was flesh and blood.
Hebrews 2:14.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Jesus existed in God’s mind from the very beginning, not as a person co-equal with God from the beginning (emphasis on verse 20), but as God’s plan.
1 Peter 1:18-20
18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Paul describes believers (us) exactly the same way Peter described Christ.
Ephesians 1:4-5
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love,
having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire
As regards believers in Christ, Paul says we were chosen before the foundation of the world and that we have been predestined for adoption. This doesn’t mean we were persons before the foundation of the world. It means God knew us before we were born to this world and had a plan for us.
Peter in verse 20 of the first chapter of his first book describes Jesus as the one “who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake.”
The agreement of these scriptures are clear. Just like we the believers, our Lord Jesus existed in the mind of God before he became flesh, and not as a person equally God along side Yahweh/Jehovah.
What then makes Jesus our Lord?
Colossians 1:14-15
In whom (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God, THE FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE:
Verse 15 makes it clear that Jesus isn’t God. God is invisible. Jesus is his image (his representation/likeness), not him.
God got us saved through Jesus Christ. He was the mind of God, and God fashioned every other man to be like him. He’s the model. He’s the saviour. He’s the first to resurrect unto eternal life. He has inherited a name above every other name. He’s been exalted by God. All authority in heaven, on earth and beneath belongs to him!
We have to stop here for today. We will continue tomorrow as usual.
Do follow up till the end. Thank you.
Light shines.
© SonsHub Media | Written By Fredrick Agaga
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Agaga Fredrick Abangji is a writer, reporter, content writer, believer in Jesus Christ, and a creator of religious literature. A student of Bingham university – Nasarawa state, studying mass communication.