Some Churches believe and teach that Jesus Christ was only a man, a good person, but not really God. Who was Jesus Christ according to the Holy Bible? Was He really only a man, or both God and man? (PART ONE OF TWO)

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Answers to Bible Questions

(PART ONE OF TWO)

Scriptures are from the KJV of the Bible

(Q)  Some Churches believe and teach that Jesus Christ was only a man, a good person, but not really God. Who was Jesus Christ according to the Holy Bible? Was He really only a man, or both God and man? 

 

(A)  The Bible has a lot to say about who Jesus Christ really was, still is, and always will be. Jesus Christ is what the whole Bible is all about. As we look at the scriptures, we will see that Jesus Christ was both God and man. Why was He both God and man? Who really was Jesus Christ? Let’s find out!

From eternity past and into eternity future, God has, and always will exist as a trinity. We refer to Him as the Triune God, consisting of THREE DIVINE PERSONS. They were, and always will be completely equal to one another in every way. But, for the benefit of mankind, they took on their respective roles as The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit in order to fulfill their redemptive plan for mankind.

The First Person of the Godhead became The Father, and the Second Person of the Godhead took on a subordinate role to The Father and became the Son of God, and was the Word of God. In John 1:14 The Word then became flesh and dwelt among us and is also known as Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Immanuel, Son of Man, Son of God, Christ, and sometimes is called The Angel of the Lord. Luke tells us why the second person or the Word would be called the Son of God:  Luke 1:35: 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”. The second person or the Word was going to be born as a human baby and take the role as God’s Son, but He was still completely and totally God, but now He would be fully man and also remain fully God in the flesh so He could die for the sins of mankind. The Third Person of the Godhead took on a subordinate role to The Son and The Father and was known as The Spirit of the Lord, The Holy Spirit and The Comforter.

The second person of the Godhead or the Word had a special job to do because He was the creator of all things and the only one worthy or able to reconcile mankind back to the Father. John 1:1-4: ¹ In the beginning was the Word (the one who became Jesus Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

In John 1:1 above it says that the Word was God, and John 1:14 says the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The Word was the one who became Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:3 tells us through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, and Psalms 33:6 says by the Word of the LORD (JEHOVAH in Hebrew) were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.  This is talking about The Word who became flesh; Jesus Christ

I want to show you that the LORD or JEHOVAH in the Old Testament was the one who became THE WORD, THE SON OF GOD, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR.

The trinity of the Godhead is not just a New Testament concept. In fact, it is one of the very first concepts if not the first concept introduced in the entire Bible. It is expressed many times in the Old Testament in verses such as Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The word translated as “God” is “Elohim” in the original Hebrew which is a plural word. It occurs more than 2000 times in the Old Testament. Another example is Genesis 1:26 which says; “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”  Notice here that “Elohim” is even accompanied by the plural pronouns “us” and “our”. The plural pronoun “us” is used again when God divided the languages at the tower of Babel. God said in Genesis 11:7, ” let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. ”

Genesis 3:22 says, “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil.”  When “the LORD” appears in all capital letters in the King James translation of the Bible, it is almost always the Hebrew word “Jehovah”, God’s proper name. The KJV translators did not spell out the name Jehovah, but replaced it with “the LORD” 99.86% of the more than 6000 times that it occurs in the Old Testament. So here in Genesis 3:22, “LORD God” is Jehovah Elohim. Also the name “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew word “yeh-ho-shoo’-ah” which means “Jehovah is salvation”.

In Psalms 33:6 the word LORD is JEHOVAH in Hebrew and means “self-Existent or Eternal one.” In Psalm 102:1 we read: ¹ (A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.) Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. In both of the Psalms quoted here, the three words rendered LORD are the same as JEHOVAH in Hebrew.

From Psalms 102:1 above we know that this whole chapter is referring to The LORD or JEHOVAH. Let’s drop down to verses 25-27 in Psalms 102 and we read: ²⁵ Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. ²⁶ They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: ²⁷ But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. These verses from the Old Testament are referring to the LORD JEHOVAH laying the foundation of the earth and the heavens which will pass away but, the LORD JEHOVAH shall have no end.

In the book of Hebrews 1:10-12: we read: ¹⁰ And, Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: ¹¹ They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; ¹² And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. These verses from the New Testament are also talking about the LORD OR JEHOVAH laying the foundation of the earth and the heavens, and thy years shall not fail.

The LORD of the Old Testament and the LORD of the New Testament are one and the same person or the LORD JEHOVAH, and is also called the WORD, the one who became flesh and dwelt among us which was also JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR.

Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a child is born, (this is referring to the WORD or the one who became flesh, JESUS CHRIST) 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.” For many, this is a puzzling verse. Most people have no problem thinking of Jesus Christ as a child and a son. Some also realize that when He returns to Earth, He will also be King in control of all government. But many do not see how Jesus Christ could also be called “The mighty God, The everlasting Father”.

Notice where Isaiah 9:6 calls the child that is born The mighty God. Lest there be any doubt who this is, know that Isaiah 10:20-21 uses the same title saying, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.” Jeremiah 32:18-19 also uses this same title, “Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Also know that Isaiah 10:21 and Jeremiah 32:18 use the same Hebrew words from which “the mighty God” is translated as does Isaiah 9:6. So this child, “The mighty God” is “the LORD (JEHOVAH), the Holy One of Israel”, “the LORD (JEHOVAH) of hosts”, also the second person of the Godhead, the one who became Jesus Christ.

Genesis 17:1: ¹And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Again LORD here is JEHOVAH in Hebrew and JEHOVAH is JESUS CHRIST.

Deuteronomy 10:17: ¹⁷ For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. LORD in this verse referring to Jesus Christ.

I hope that you can begin to see that Jesus Christ was more than just a man, but He was the Almighty God, The Word, JEHOVAH the second person of the Godhead who became flesh and dwelt among us.

In Isaiah 9:6 the Christ child is called: “the everlasting Father”. Compare this to Isaiah 63:16: “0 LORD (Jehovah), art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.” This verse is also referring to Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ told His disciples in John 14:6-7,” I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” Then in verse 8 Philip said,” Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” But Jesus Christ replied in verse 9-10,” have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? “

Because all three divine persons are ONE GOD, they are all in, and part of each other, so the Word or Jesus Christ is also the everlasting Father. Boggles the mind doesn’t it!

 Let’s look at a few more scriptures from the Old and New Testament that prove JEHOVAH, SAVIOR in the Old Testament, and JESUS CHRIST, SAVIOR in the New Testament, are the same person, the second person of the Trinity, THE WORD who became flesh, JESUS CHRIST.

WHICH ONE IS THE SAVIOR?

From the Old Testament:

Isaiah 43:3: ³ For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy SAVIOR.

Isaiah 43:11: ¹¹ I even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no SAVIOR.

Isaiah 45:21: ²¹ Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a SAVIOR; there is none beside me.

(REMEMBER, most of the time in the Old Testament where you see the Word “LORD”, it is “JEHOVAH” in the Greek.)

From the New Testament:

Luke 2:11: ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, which is Christ the Lord.

 Titus 1:3-4: ³ But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of GOD our SAVIOR. ⁴ To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our SAVIOR.

TITUS 3:6: ⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our SAVIOR.

Now, If JEHOVAH in the Old Testament is the ONLY GOD and the ONLY SAVIOR, and the New Testament clearly states that CHRIST IS THE SAVIOR, the only conclusion that can be reached is that CHRIST IS JEHOVAH. It is as simple as that. Unless, of course; there are two SAVIORS which there are not, but again, what does JEHOVAH say in the Old Testament: I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is NO SAVIOR. This is proof that the LORD of the Old Testament is also JEHOVAH and JEHOVAH OR LORD in the New Testament is the person of Jesus Christ.

Let’s go back to John 1:1 again which say’s: ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:3 say’s: ³ All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. These verses tell us that the WORD WAS GOD and all things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. Back in Psalms 102:25, we find the same thing said about THE LORD OR JEHOVAH: Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands. THE WORD, THE LORD OR JEHOVAH are the same person; the second person of the Godhead, also called THE SON OF GOD, LORD, AND JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR. All these titles belong to the second person of the Godhead.

Next, we go to Hebrews chapter 1 which is all about THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Hebrews 1:1-3: ¹ God, (the one who became THE FATHER) who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ² Hath in these last days **spoken unto us by his Son,** ( THE WORD,THE ONE WHO BECAME FLESH, JESUS CHRIST) whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; ³ Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. In these verses GOD THE FATHER is telling us that He has spoken to us through His SON (THE WORD, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR) and CHRIST JESUS is also the express image of His person or GOD THE FATHER. Again, notice that GOD THE FATHER says that through the SON, He made the worlds.

In the paragraph above where you see these symbols**in front of the words **spoken unto us by his Son;** I am showing you in the paragraph below that THE WORD, who became the SON OF GOD was the one referred to when it says: “spoken unto us by his Son.”

**“Word” in the Greek is “Logos” and means Divine Expression, speaker, utterance, communicator. So The Word, who was God was also the communicator or the one who spoke for the Godhead.”**

A few verses later Hebrews 1:8-10 says, “But unto the Son he (God the Father) saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.” Here, God the Father is calling Jesus Christ Lord and God and accrediting Him with the creation of heaven and earth.

Philippians 2:6-8: ⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. In these verses Jesus Christ is saying that He is equal with the Father, but Jesus humbled himself willingly to become a man so He could die for the sins of mankind.

THE “PREEMINENCE” (SUPERIORITY) OF CHRIST IN THE BOOK COLOSSIANS:

Colossians 1:14-20: ¹⁴ In whom (Talking about Christ) we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¹⁵ Who (CHRIST) is the image of the invisible God, (referring to GOD THE FATHER) the **firstborn** of every creature: ¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the **firstborn from the dead;** that in all things he might have the preeminence. ¹⁹ For it pleased The Father that in Him (Christ) should all fullness dwell; ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

**Firstborn** Here Christ is referred to as the firstborn because Christ who was God in the flesh, died in the flesh for the sins of mankind, and then Christ was the first of all creation to be resurrected. Christ was what we call the “God-Man” because He was the second person of the Godhead; fully God, and also fully man at the same time. Christ was our Creator, and He was the only one who was worthy to die for His very own Creation. Christ who was God in the flesh, temporary set His glory aside so He could become human and die for all, and then He was resurrected back to His former glory which He had from eternity with the Triune Godhead, consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Also you can see from Colossians 1:14-20 quoted above that the one who became Christ Jesus did all the creating, and by Him all things consist and have their being. Christ Jesus, the second person of the Trinity; is again referred to in other places in the Bible as THE WORD, THE SON OF GOD,THE CREATOR, OUR LORD, JEHOVAH, AND OUR SAVIOR. These are only some of the many titles that the second person of the Trinity has.

Please keep in mind as we continue with this article, that the three persons of the Godhead took on their specific roles as The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit in order to fulfill their redemptive plan for mankind.

I hope from all that I have presented so far, you can see that JESUS CHRIST IS GOD as much as THE FATHER IS GOD. They are ONE GOD in THREE DIVINE PERSONS. If you don’t fully understand all of this about how God consist of three divine persons, and yet be ONE GOD, don’t worry, because no human being on the face of the earth fully understands it either. We must believe it by Faith until we come into the very presence of God Himself at the Rapture or our death, whichever comes first.

The One to call upon:

1 Peter 1:17 says, “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear ” 1 Corinthians 1:2 says, “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” Notice that the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are referred to as the one to call upon. Also in Acts 22:16 Paul recounts his conversion, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” And who is “the Lord”? A few verses earlier in Acts 22:6-8 Paul said, “And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutes.”

Raising us from the dead:

Jesus will resurrect believers from the dead as He said in John 6:54, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Raising Himself from the dead:

Likewise, Jesus had the power to take back His own life, after laying it down. He said in John 10:17-18, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” Notice how He says twice that He is able to take His life back after giving it up. As He said in John 2: 19,” Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” (Jesus was talking about Himself when He said, “I will raise it up.”)

Giving eternal life, which no man can pluck from His Hand:

The saved are in the hand of Jesus, and no man can pluck them out, as He said in John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Then in verses 29-30, Jesus makes the same statement about the Father, and says He and His Father are one, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” The Jews certainly knew what Jesus was saying, and they tried to stone Him, as they said in verse 33,” for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” Notice also how in verse 28, Jesus said He is the one who gives eternal life.

END OF PART ONE OF TWO