JESUS IS GOD

SCRIPTURE OF INTEREST

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15 – 18 NKJV).

MY COMMENTARY

IS JESUS GOD?

Why would I ask such a question when it is assumed that every believer believes that Jesus is God? Now is that true? Well, let me quote you something that I just read recently from Christian Headlines.com which will make you realize that we are living in a time where the Bible is not as important as it used to be.

“A majority of Americans and nearly a third of evangelicals say Jesus was a ‘good teacher’ but was not God, according to a new survey for Ligonier Ministries that was conducted by Lifeway Research.

All total, 52 percent of Americans say they believe Jesus was a ’good teacher, but He was not God,’ according to the survey. Although the poll’s finding about the general population may not be shocking, Ligonier said it is surprising that nearly a third of evangelicals (30 percent) affirm the statement and believe Jesus was a good teacher and nothing more. Sixty-six percent of evangelicals disagree with the statement.

‘The confusion illustrated in these results suggests a dire need for Christians to be taught Christology, the doctrine of the person and work of Jesus Christ,’ Ligonier said in a news release . . .

Meanwhile, 65 percent of evangelicals believe ‘Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God’ – a statement that conflicts with the Bible . . .

‘Statistics like these from the State of Theology survey can give us quite a shock, but they also shed light on the concerns that many American Christians and churches have expressed for decades,’ said Stephen Nichols, chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries and president of Reformation Bible College. He further said, ‘As the culture around us increasingly abandons its moral compass, professing evangelicals are sadly drifting away from God’s absolute standard in Scripture. It’s clear that the church does not have the luxury of idly standing by. This is the time for Christians to study Scripture diligently, engage confidently with people in our culture, and witness fearlessly to the identity and saving work of Jesus Christ in the gospel’.”

This article is telling us that we need some real good sound teaching on what Scripture says who Jesus is and what He came to do. In response to the disciples in John’s gospel Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him, who sent me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34 NKJV). Scripture is very clear that Jesus was not only a “good teacher” but our Saviour who gave His life as a ransom for our souls. Unfortunately, today we find many preachers in the pulpits in North American churches who are preaching what I call motivational jargon lacking solid expositional exegesis from the Scripture. Now more than ever we need to direct people back to the Bible and teach them foundational truths that will give them clarity as to who Jesus really was and is.

Friends, there are so many references in Scripture concerning the deity of Jesus Christ which is beyond any reasonable doubt. They provide the proof that Jesus Christ is the Son of God in the flesh. This has been the accepted doctrine throughout the ages by the church as foundational. 1 John 1:1 – 3 NKJV states “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.” Then we see another passage in the very next chapter that tells us this “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God’ (1 John 5:4, 5 NKJV).

John 1:1 NKJV the first verse of John’s gospel gives Jesus’ title as the “Word”, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Look at Hebrews 1:1 – 3 NKJV which gives us some insight about the Word, “God . . . by His Son . . . through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power.” Jesus is the Word and through Him the world came into being and is kept by the power of His word.

In John 8:58 NKJV Jesus said this, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” This title “I AM” is the one God gave to Himself in Exodus 3:14 when Moses asked, “Who shall I say sent me?”

Doubting Thomas when confronted by the risen Saviour exclaimed, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28 NKJV) and Christ commended him for his confession.

Let’s continue to show proof that Jesus is Saviour and fully God. In Titus 2:13 NKJV Paul makes this statement “our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” The writer to the Hebrews states in 1:8 NKJV “But to the Son He says ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever’.” John in his epistle writes, “We are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5:20 NKJV).

One more thing that needs to be added to confirm the deity of Jesus Christ. The title of Jehovah is worth noting here because Matthew 3:3 NKJV says, “Prepare the way of the Lord” is a quotation from Isaiah 40:3 and in both verses the word translated “Lord” is the word “Jehovah” in the original, and it is applied to Jesus Christ in Matthew’s gospel. Friends, let us stick to the Bible as the final word rather than what sceptics or religions say. There is a movement to limit Christian influence through the spirit of Antichrist and so everything is being done to stop our witness and belief. “And this the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world” (1 John 5:3b).

Friend, believe the Bible.

Q AND A

QUESTION: Where did Hinduism start and what are some of their core beliefs?

ANSWER: There are approximately 1.25 billion adherents to Hinduism and the largest concentration is in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The religion is also scattered throughout many countries of the world.

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions of the world and currently is the third largest next to Islam. It is considered one of the most complex of religions, having originated in India around 1500 B.C. as a polytheistic, ritualistic, system of beliefs. As it developed, the rituals performed became so involved that a priestly class was created and a form of scriptures, the Vedas, were written to provide instructions for how to conduct the rituals. Today Hinduism, a syncretistic blend of religious, philosophical and social doctrines, comprises an entire family of religions, with widely varied beliefs and practices.

Its core beliefs are extremely diverse, but most Hindus believe in Brahman, the three-in-One God (Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer); Brahman-Atman unity (the understanding that man is extended from and is one with Brahman); the Caste System; the Law of Karma; reincarnation (a series of rebirths through which each soul, by right living, can rise to a higher state); nirvana (the final state reached when the soul is freed from the cycle of rebirths); and Dharma (the Law of Moral Oder, which must be followed to reach nirvana).