IS JESUS CHRIST GOD
IS JESUS CHRIST GOD: The bible portion below is often used to support the teaching that Jesus is God.
Matthew 1:21-25
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, 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.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Although verse 23 says Jesus will be called Emmanuel, we see from the 21st and the 25th verse of the same chapter that the child was named “Jesus” when he was finally born. This is no contradiction.
When scriptures say a person would be called a particular name, it doesn’t always mean the person will literally be referred to by people by that name. Sometimes, it’s only a description of the role the person will play or what the person represents. For instance, Isaiah (in Isaiah 9:6, a scripture thoroughly analyzed and explained in a previous part under this series) mentions numerous names Jesus would be called. These were only descriptions of what he represents and his roles. The scriptures were by no means implying that his parents will officially/literally give him all the names.
Trinitarians believe and teach that since Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be called ‘Emmanuel,’ he must be God (Emmanuel means ‘God with us’).
Even trinitarians (if honest) would agree with me that names can’t be taken that way always. In Numbers 1:10, a man was mentioned whose name was ‘Pedahzur.’ He was the father of Gamaliel, of Manasseh’s lineage. This man’s name (Pedahzur) means “the rock of redemption.”
Reading through the new testament, Jesus is clearly described as our/the rock (1 Cor. 10:4, 1 Pet. 2:4-8, etc). He’s also our redeemer; the ransom for our sins (1 Pet. 2:24, Matt. 20:28, Mark 10:45, Rev. 5:9, Gal. 3:13-14 etc).
Therefore, if we are supposed to assume that Jesus is God because he’s called ‘Emmanuel,’ then we have to also believe that this man in the old testament called Pedahzur is Jesus Christ since his name means “rock of redemption.” However, we would be wrong to make such conclusions since names shouldn’t be taken literally all the time.
Secondly, if Jesus being called Emmanuel means he’s God, it simply means that no one else should bear the name Emmanuel. It also means that whoever is bearing it right now is God also, which can’t be.
Finally and most importantly, Isaiah rightly prophesied that Jesus would be called Emmanuel (God with us) because of the role Jesus was going to play. As the price for our sins (Adam’s lost righteousness), Jesus restored our relationship with God. He brought humanity back to God.
God is now with us as a result of the redemptive works of his Son, Jesus the Messiah. This is how he can be called Emmanuel. He brought humanity to God. God dwells with/in men now.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Peter didn’t teach that Jesus was God. Neither he or any other early believer did. Peter taught that by the sacrifice of Jesus, he brought us to God (1 Pet. 3:18). This is why “God is with us” now.
Because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God now dwells in men by his Spirit (his power/nature/active force/).
Ephesians 2:21-22
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Everyone who accepts this good news of salvation through Jesus Christ the Son of God receives the forgiveness of his sins and God’s righteousness and he receives God’s Spirit as the proof (Eph. 1:13-14).
God is now with us through Christ Jesus his Son, the propitiation for our sins.
At this juncture, we must end for today.
Thank you. You are deeply appreciated for reading.
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.
