Equal with God
In one of my recent hubs, my wife shared her testimony and how she came to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Someone left the comment that now that she knows Jesus, she needs to get to know God. I can understand the confusion that surrounds this issue, but clearly Scripture teaches that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are equal in every way.
While I would not argue that we as born-again Christians worship one God, I realize that we worship Him in three persons. Deuteronomy 6:4 points this out. I take Scripture at face value. I may not understand everything, but if the Bible says it, that settles it for me. The best example I can give of how God exists as three-in-one is myself. I am a husband to my wife. She sees me as such. I am a father to my children. They see me as such. I am a pastor to my congregation. They see me as such--one person with three distinct roles and responsibilities. I admit that this is a poor illustration. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches there is one God existing in three distinct persons, not three distinct roles .I know of no person or church that can adequately explain the Trinity
If you can, get a copy of the King James Bible to look up the following verses. Many of the newer versions remove Christ's claims to deity. I also will not argue Scripture. It is what it is. I do not try to make Scripture fit my philosophy, but rather allow Scripture to be my philosophy. My goal is not to preach, but rather to let the Word of God through the Holy Spirit speak.
Isaiah 9:6 says clearly that Jesus the Son is the mighty God, as well as the everlasting Father.
Isaiah 44:6 goes on to say the LORD the King of Israel, is equal to His redeemer the LORD of hosts; Isaiah mentions the fact that God is the first, and he is the last; Jesus shares those same words in Revelation 1:17.He is the first and the last. Jesus is the redeemer the LORD of hosts.
We know that God created the worlds.This is pointed out in the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1. Colossians 1:16, 17 says in reference to Christ that all things were made by Jesus. Colossians 1:15 talks of Jesus as being the visible image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. The word firstborn here has to do with being first in time and place, not in a creation sense. This is connected to the thought in verse 17 as we see that Jesus was before all things.
What about Mathew 28:19? Notice that it is the name, not names of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.. Even though there are different responsibilities, there is One name. Notice that Jesus also said in verse 18 that all power is given unto Him. All power belongs to Jesus. If Jesus is not God, then at least He is more powerful than God...that is absurd.
The writer of Hebrews links Jesus the Son to the Godhead as the Son is clearly referred to as God. The Son is God? That is what it says.
What are we to do with John 14:,7, 9?. Philip asks to see God to which Jesus replies, if you have seen me you have seen God the Father. To know Christ is to know the Father.
The apostle John nails it on the head when he says in I John 5:20 that Jesus Christ is the true God, and eternal life".
This is where my wife was coming from in her testimony. She has been given an understanding to know the very Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is the true God and eternal life.
The apostle continues in his Gospel, John 1:1-3. He mentions that Jesus was in the beginning with God and was in fact God. Just a side note here--to be in the beginning one must be before the beginning and He is the creator of all things.
The Apostle Paul mentions this in reference to Christ in Philippians 2:6, " Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God..."
Matthew gives the account of the Lord's temptation in Matthew 4:5-7. The devil refers to Jesus as the Son of God, and Jesus replies that he should not tempt Him (Jesus), the Lord his God.
Acts 20:28 tells that God bought His church with His own blood. The church of God was purchased with the blood of God.
Titus speaks of the equality of Jesus with God as well. In Titus 1:3 he links the two with the term God our Saviour. Again in Titus 2:13 we see the great God being linked to our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Titus 3:4 he uses the term God our Saviour once again.
Salvation can only come through Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. God with us, Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23) This same Jesus is coming back for His own. "This same Jesus...shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11)."
What does it mean to be one of His own? To have a right standing before this God-man Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:22 tells us that the only way sin can be forgiven is with a blood offering. A blood offering is required for the atonement of sin. Jesus offered His blood once for all. God became human flesh to identify with us as a sheep led to the slaughter (Acts 8:32). He and He alone paid your price. You can know Him personally. You can have a right relationship with the God of Heaven. Come to Him today before it may be forever too late.
"If ye had known me,ye should have known my Father also...he that hath seen me hath seen the Father..." (John 14:7, 9).
