Did
Jesus of Nazareth live being a Man, God or Both?
John 1:1
In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
Heb 1:8
But unto the Son he saith, Thy
throne, O God, is for ever
and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9
Thou hast
loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;
therefore God, even thy God, hath
anointed thee with the oil of
gladness...
The Word was God and
he was made as a man.
God did not just show himself
as a man, but he was made as a man,
he lived among us and he was Jesus of Nazareth. He showed us how to live a
holy life. After his life and after his death as the Lamb of God, God
made
Jesus as our Lord and his Christ.
Then God and the Holy Ghost declared
him as God. While most
Christians say that Jesus of Nazareth was living as man and God at the
same time, the Word of God quietly establishes the fact that he was living
not as God, but lived only as a man, who was approved of God.
I am a Christian and I
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, I did not have the true
understanding of God until I spent time to study about God with much
prayer. Then God showed me that he is three persons in one body, that is,
he has three souls in one Spirit (body). I am a soul that makes me
a person and God is three souls that make him three persons. I am a man
since my soul is in a human flesh (body). God is God since his souls are
in a Spirit that is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Or, we may
say that God is God because of his omnipotent, omnipresent, and
omniscient Spirit (body), not because of his souls.
The names of the three persons in God were the Most
High, the Word, and the Spirit of God. In the New Testament their names
are the Father, the Son (Lord Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost. Among the
three persons, "God the Word" was made flesh. This flesh was
Jesus of Nazareth. Can flesh be God? No, flesh is not God
but a mere man. In order to emphasize the fact that Jesus of Nazareth
was born just as a man, the Holy Ghost used the word "flesh." The soul of
"God the Word" left his Omni-Power Spirit body and entered the
flesh body of a human child. Thus the God person was born as a baby
boy, lived as a man, and died as a man. From his birth to his
death, no time he lived as God. But he lived as a man who was approved
of God.
He was crucified, died and was buried. God the Father
and the Holy Ghost have raised him from his death, glorified him,
declared him Christ, made him Lord, and proclaimed him God. Thus the
man Jesus was proclaimed as God. However, Christian scholars say that
God the Word never left the status of being God. Even though this is
the most popular belief among all Christians, it is not the truth
according to the Bible. As popular as it is, this belief is based on
sentiment and tradition. However, let us study the scripture to see
whether Jesus lived as Man or GOD or both, while he lived as a man on
the earth. We will also see why it is an important topic.
1. God was made man and later he was declared God
(a) Ask a Christian, "who is God?" He will answer you, "Lord
Jesus Christ." Inquire about "Lord Jesus Christ." He will tell you all about
Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Man,
who lived 2000 years ago, who performed miracles, healed the
sick, and raised the dead. The Bible refers him as
a man approved of God
and not as God.
"Acts 2:22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God."
Jesus of Nazareth spoke about himself as a man that has told the truth, even the truth which he heard from God.
"John 8:40
But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I
have heard of God." The word of God says that Jesus of Nazareth was
a man, of course, approved of God and was doing good to people.
The Bible says that God is a Spirit. He is
omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. "God the Word", a Spirit, who had the
Omni-Powers
of God, was made into flesh, which had no
Omni-Power that
is he was born just as a mere man, who was Jesus of
Nazareth,
the Son of Man.
"John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. ... 14
..
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
..." In order to become a man, he
declined his equality with God, and laid down his reputation. As a man, he
became a servant, and obeyed God until death.
"Phil
2:6
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."
He became an ordinary man to the extent that he was crying
to God praying in tears. He also had to be made perfect like any other human being and
had to be
saved from death.
"Heb 5:7 Who in
the
days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong
crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was
heard in
that he feared;
8 Though he
were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9
and being made perfect,"
God is a Spirit that is
omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. God is also three
persons (souls). And these three souls are in the one Spirit. God created
man. Gen 1:26 God said,
Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
27 So God
created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;
It is obvious that God made man in the image of his soul, but not in the
image of his
omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent Spirit.
Gen 2:7 And the LORD
God formed man of the dust of the ground,... Then God formed the
body of man from the dust. Gen 2:7
… man became a living soul. Then God
placed the soul in the body, as the souls
(persons) of God are in the omnipotent,
omniscient and omnipresent Spirit. In our topic, the soul of
'God the Word,' which is in the same image of the soul of man, has left
the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent
Spirit and entered the created flesh body in the
womb of Virgin Mary. This man is Jesus of Nazareth and he is not God,
since he is now a soul in flesh body, even though the soul is the same
soul of 'God the Word.' Thus God became or was made to be a man. It
was the first cut off point that 'God the Word' was made to be a
man. "John 1:14
The Word was made flesh." The divine
became human. 'God the Word' did not show himself as a man, but he was
made into a man. Before he was omnipresent God, but in the flesh he was
limited to a man's body. Before he was omniscient God, but in the flesh he
had to be taught. Before he was omnipotent God, but in the flesh God had
to give him power. "2
Cor 8:9 ...Lord Jesus Christ, that,
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor." So,
Jesus of Nazareth, a soul in flesh, was just a man.
This man, Jesus of Nazareth,
had to receive everything from God as any other
man
or
woman on earth would receive. God the Father had to give him grace and the Spirit so that he
could live a holy and perfect life. "Luke
2:40 And
the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and
the grace of God was upon him."
God the Father had to do miracles for him.
"John 5:19
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The
Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what
things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.20
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth:
and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and
quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will."
God the Father had to give him the word so that he could preach the gospel.
"Deut 18:18
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and
will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall
command him.
John 7:16
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 8:26
... I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
John 17:8
For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have
received them," God had to teach and to give
power to Jesus of Nazareth so that he may preach and do miracles.
(b) Jesus,
the Son of Man, was crucified, died and was buried. God raised him
from the dead. God glorified him, declared this man
Christ, made him
Lord, and proclaimed him God as his equal and placed him at his right hand. This is the other
cut off
point. He
was a man.
Now, the Lord Jesus Christ is God.
The man, Jesus of Nazareth, obeyed God unto death and was
buried. But God raised him from death. God the Most High and God the Holy Ghost jointly declared this Jesus as
the begotten Son of God. "Psalms
2:7 I
will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day
have I begotten thee.
Acts 13:30
But God raised him from the dead. 33 . in that he hath raised up
Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son,
this day have I begotten thee."
The Most High and the Holy Ghost made him Lord
and Christ. "Acts
2:36
... God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord
and Christ."
The Most High and the Holy Ghost proclaimed him as God. "Heb
1:8 But unto
the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre
of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even
thy God, hath anointed thee ..." All power (omni-powers)
is given to him.
"Matt 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth." From this point he is God. The soul of
Jesus of Nazareth was glorified and entered the Omni-Power Spirit after his
death and resurrection. He had to be glorified in order to enter heaven.
"1 Cor 15:50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of
God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." Now, the Lord Jesus
Christ, was proclaimed God.
And
so,
Jesus Christ is God for the
last two thousand years.
2. Proofs that Jesus of Nazareth
lived as a Man but not as God
Religiosity, tradition, and sentiment of Christians very strongly suggest that
Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Man, lived as God while the word of God says that
he lived as an ordinary man who was pleasing God through his life. Here, we will see a
few verses to suggest that he was living as a man and not as God.
(However, the Man Jesus gave his life on the cross as the Lamb of
God. God the Father and the Holy Ghost have raised him from his death and made
him, Lord, Christ, and God by glorifying him
as a Spirit with
Omni-Powers and anointing him as God. So, for the last 2000+ years, the
Lord Jesus Christ is God and he is saving his people from sinning as well as he
is seated in heaven on the right hand of God the Father.)
(A).
He had to receive Grace,
Wisdom and Spirit
Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of
Man, grew as any other child in wisdom. God had to give him the Spirit in
measure and in abundance. God had to give grace to him as he gives to any
other man. The fact that he had to receive them from God proves that he
was not God, but a man. "Luke
2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in
spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
John 3:34 God giveth
not the Spirit by measure unto him."
(B).
Bible says that He was a man of sorrows
He was a man of sorrows.
"Isaiah 53:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief:" He wished, if possible, to remove the cup of suffering
and death from himself. He needed the support of his disciples for prayer. We could see in him the agony
of a man, who was filled with fear. If he was God, he would not have such an
agony and fear. "Matt
26:38 Then saith he unto them,
My soul is
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I
will, but as thou wilt."
(C). Declined
His Status and Reputation of God
'God the Word' was
equal with 'God the most high', as God. In order to become the Son of Man,
he had to lay down the equal status with God and he had to set
aside all reputation, that is to say that he ceased to be God. He made
himself just as a man, even a servant. As a man he was a humble and
obedient servant.
"Phil 2:6
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." He
lived as an obedient man servant to God, but not as a subordinate God.
(D). He was Terrified, He had
to be Saved by God
"Heb
5:7 Who in
the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and
supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was
able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;"
(1) Those days he was just flesh that was just a man. (2) He
prayed crying, weeping with tears even with fear. If he was God, why
should he weep and be fearful? (3) He prayed to God who was able to
save him. This description of him is not the description of God, but
the description of a man.
(E).
If he
had to be Made Perfect, He
was not Perfect to begin with
"Heb
5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered;
9
and being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all
them that obey him..." Jesus of Nazareth had to learn obedience.
If he was God, he would have known everything. He was made perfect.
If he was God, he would have been already perfect. He became the
author of salvation. If he was God, he would have been already the
author of salvation. So, he was living just as a man.
(F).
Man Jesus had
neither Omni-Powers nor Spirit body
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh,
God is a Spirit, but Jesus was flesh, who was just a man, but not God.
Acts 2:36 God
hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
If he was already Lord and Christ, why God had to make him as Lord and
Christ again, after his resurrection? Heb 1:8
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a
sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated
iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of
gladness. If he was God already, why God had
to proclaim him as God after his resurrection?
Matt 28:18 Jesus came
and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth. If he already had all the powers, why
God had to give him all powers (omni power attributes) after he was raised
from his death? These are proof that Jesus Christ lived as just a man
while he was living on earth.
(G).
God cannot be tempted,
but Jesus was tempted
God cannot be tempted with evil,
either by the devil or by the world, or by the flesh.
"James
1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am
tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he
any man:"
But, Jesus of Nazareth was tempted, which is proof that he was not God.
"Matt
4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Heb 2:18...
in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour
them that are tempted. Heb 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin."
As a man, he was tempted in all points in the
same way as we are being tempted, but he overcame all temptations. He was
sinless.
"Rev
3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit
with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in
his throne."
He became a man to show us a sample life so
that we as men/women may follow him and overcome our temptations.
(H).
God is not a Man and a Man is
not God
Num
23:19 God is not a man … neither
the son of man, 1 Sam 15:29
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not
a man. Hosea 11:9
… I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man;
So, God is not a man and man is not God. So,
Jesus of Nazareth lived just as a man, but not as God.
(I).
God cannot Die and
God is not Lower than Angel
Heb 2:9.
we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death... John 1:36
... looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
God and angels cannot die and if Jesus of Nazareth was God, he
could not have died. But his death is proof that he lived as a man, but
not as God. And also, how a person who was lower than an angel be God? He
was just a man.
(J).
God is Immortal,
Invisible, and nobody can see him
God told Moses:
Ex 33:20 he
said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time;
1 Tim 1:17 Now
unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God,
1 Tim 6:16
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach
unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power
everlasting. Amen. So,
God is immortal, but Jesus of Nazareth was mortal. God is invisible, but
Jesus of Nazareth was visible. No man can see even the light that God dwells
in, neither can see God. Anybody could see Jesus of Nazareth. So, we see
that Jesus of Nazareth lived just as a man.
3.
Why
Christians think that Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Man, was God?
(Period: From His birth as a
boy child
to his
death as the Lamb of God)
Most Christians think that Jesus of Nazareth lived as a
man and God at the same time. So, they write me questions and I answer
them from the Bible. I give a few questions and answers, hoping that it
may help you also. If you have any questions, you may also write to me.
Thanks.
(A). Question: Mary
got pregnant by the Holy Ghost. That is, the father is God and the mother is
a woman. So, why not the son Jesus be a combination of a man and God?
Answer: If virgin Mary became pregnant by the Holy Ghost,
then Jesus would have been Man-God. But, that was not the case.
"Luke 1:35
And
the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and
the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
Matt 1:20
... for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost."
The above verses make us to think as if the seed of God was planted in the womb of Mary
that made her pregnant.
But, God is a Spirit and God does not have a flesh seed. Further,
according to the Bible,
Jesus was the seed of the woman, but not
the seed of God.
"Gen 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed
and her seed;"
Mary was conceived by her own seed, which was the miracle.
"Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son."
They came upon the virgin, not to impregnate her as her husband would, but to
create a body in her womb as God would. If they, Holy Ghost or God the Highest,
would have impregnated Mary as a man would, then Mary would have lost her
virginity and would have been no longer a virgin.
But Mary was still a virgin until baby Jesus was born and made the prophesy
true. Hence, Jesus of Nazareth was just a man, since God
has created the the seed of the woman from the womb of Mary, as he created Eve
from the rib of Adam.
"God the Word" asked God the Most High and the Holy Ghost,
to create a body for him to be born in the world as a man.
"Heb 10:5
...when he cometh into the world, he saith,
... a body hast thou prepared me:"
So, they came upon Virgin Mary and created a body of flesh, so that "the Word,"
who was in the Omnipotent Spirit body, can leave the Body of the Spirit,
which is God, and enter
into the body of flesh
that was human, which was created in the womb.
God created Adam from the dust of the earth. He created Eve from a rib
of Adam. God created Jesus in the womb of Mary so that Jesus was the seed
of Mary.
Jesus was even called the last Adam, to indicate that God will not create
anymore human in the fashion as he has created Adam, Eve, and Jesus.
So, he was the last Adam and he was the created seed of woman, who was just a
man.
Summary is that the soul of 'God
the Word'
left the Omnipotent
Spirit body of God and entered the flesh body in the womb of Mary so that
the baby was the seed of Mary.
Thus, God became
flesh. The divine became a human. "God the Word" became
Jesus of Nazareth, who was flesh. So, Jesus of Nazareth was
just
a man,
and
he
was neither God nor a Man-God.
He was a soul in a human
flesh body, who was just like any other normal man.
(B). Question: A baby born to a man should be
a human, a baby born to a monkey is a monkey and so, a son born to God
should be God. Since Jesus was born to God, he must have been God.
Answer:
God is neither male nor female. God will not produce children like any earthly
male and female jointly producing children. He calls the obedient people as his
children and guides them to maturity. If they meet all conditions, then he
adopts them as sons or daughters at the end. So, if God calls a person as his
son, it does not mean that this person is
begotten by God, but it simply means that this
person pleases God in his living.
There is a difference if we call someone as son and a son is born to us. When
Jesus was a man, God called him as son, but he was not born to him. But he declared
a decree on him as his begotten son
after his resurrection.
"Psalms
2:7
I
will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day
have I begotten thee.
Acts 13:30
But God raised him from the dead. 33 . in that he hath raised up
Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son,
this day have I begotten thee." That is why,
Jesus of Nazareth was a man and
the Lord Jesus
Christ is God. Look at the following scenarios that are sons of God.
(1).
Most religious Christians claim themselves as sons or daughters of God. It
does not mean that they are God. So also, the name "Son of God" is not a proof
that such a person is God.
(2).
While
Jesus was talking to his disciples he refers God as their father, which makes
the disciples as the sons of God. "Matt
6:8
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things
ye have need of, before ye ask him." He was teaching his disciples to call God as their Father.
"Matt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name." Just because the disciples are sons of
God, were they God? The answer is, No.
(3). Those who mortified the sinful deeds of their body are led of the Spirit of
God and they are sons of God. "Romans
8:13 ... if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall
live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God." Does that mean that they are God because they are sons
of God? No.
(4).
"John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:"
They
get the power to
become the sons of God, but it is not to become God.
(5).
"Phil 2:15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye
shine as lights in the world;"
Those people who are blameless, harmless, shine as light and without rebuke are
sons/daughters of God. Yet, it does not mean that they are God.
(6).
"1 John 3:1
...what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God," They, who made
themselves pure as Jesus of Nazareth was pure, are also sons of God.
Even though their
spiritual status is high, they are not God.
(7).
Those who leave the idle worship and the world are
accepted as sons and daughters.
"2 Cor 6:17
... come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be
my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Are they becoming God? No.
So, a son of God is not God, but he or she is just son or
daughter of God. That is it.
(C).
Question:
Jesus of Nazareth was called
the Mighty God in the Bible. Then, why is he not God?
Answer: No. The Bible refers Jesus of Nazareth neither as God
nor as Mighty God. Let me quote the scripture.
"Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, 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." This is a
prophetic word which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years
before the birth of Jesus.
"For unto us a child is born," this was fulfilled at the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
"Unto us a son is given," this was fulfilled when the
Lord Jesus Christ was declared as the begotten Son of God and Lord.
"The government
shall be upon his shoulder" this will be fulfilled at his thousand years
reign on earth. The end of this
prophesy,
"Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace",
this
will be fulfilled in his everlasting kingdom. Jesus of Nazareth was a child
(For unto us a child is born) in
this prophesy. The Lord Jesus Christ, who is God, will
be the Mighty God, but not Jesus of Nazareth.
(D).
Question: Jesus of
Nazareth was called Emmanuel, which means God with us. The Bible refers
Jesus as God with us. So, why not Jesus
of Nazareth is God?
Answer: Let me quote the reference verse.
"Matt 1:21.. she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
...
23
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." These verses say that you
(Joseph) call him Jesus
(thou shalt call his name
JESUS),
but they (His mother Mary, his disciples, even us
his servants) will call him
(some time in the future) Emmanuel
(they shall call his name Emmanuel).
So, Joseph called him Jesus.
"Matt 1:25
And (Joseph) knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and
he called his name JESUS." During his earthly living everybody called
him Jesus and nobody called him Emmanuel. After he was raised from the
death, he told his disciples that he will be with them always,
because all power (includes omnipresence) is given to him.
"Matt 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth...
20
... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world." His mother was also on the upper room with his
disciples when they received the power and the presence of God. From that
day, the Lord God Jesus Christ is Emmanuel,
not only to his mother Mary and to his disciples, but to us, whoever are
his true servants also,
because he is
Omnipresent, he is a Spirit, and he is God. He is
Emmanuel, God with us. "Isaiah
7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Luke 1:46
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Matt 28:20...
lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world." Thus the name that prophesied is being
fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. He will be with his disciples until the
end of this world. If you and I are the disciples of Jesus Christ, he will be
with us also. The fact that Jesus of Nazareth was with his disciples cannot
fulfill the prophesy that "God with US." Emmanuel does not mean "God was with
his twelve disciples", but it means that "God with us" that includes us also if
we are his disciples. This can only be fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, who
is God and omnipresent.
(E).
Question: The Bible says that people
worshiped Jesus of Nazareth. Is it not proof that he was God?
Answer: In general, the word 'Worship' is used in religious form of devotions,
ceremonies, prayer services, song services, etc. The Bible uses the word
'Worship' not only to show reverence to God but also to show high respect to
others as well. So, if we see a passage that a person is worshiped in the
Bible, we cannot take it as proof that such a person is God. Let me give a few
examples below.
(1).
John the revelator,
the disciple of Jesus
Christ, got very excited about the things he saw in heaven.
So, he fell at the feet of the angel, who showed these things, to worship him.
It is to give a very high respect, but not to worship the angel as God.
The angel corrected John saying that he was also a servant as
John was, but not higher than John. "Rev
19:10 ..
I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it
not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren...
Rev 22:8
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and
seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me
these things." Just because John worshiped an angel, it
is not proof that the angel is God.
(2).
Daniel has revealed the dream and interpreted the meaning to the king
Nebuchadnezzar. The king
fell upon his face, and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should
offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him.
"Dan 2:46
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar
fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should
offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. 47 The king answered unto
Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord
of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret."
The king did not worship him as God, but he worshiped him as the servant of God. Even
though Daniel was worshiped, Daniel was not God.
(3).
Apostle Peter went to Cornelius by his invitation and by the instruction of God.
As he arrived, Cornelius fell at the feet of peter and worshiped Peter. "Acts 10:25
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and
worshipped him. 26 But
Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man."
Was Peter God? No! Peter was just honored as an apostle of God, that is all.
(4). The Lord
Jesus Christ says that he will make those who belong to the synagogue of Satan
to fall
before the feet of his servants to worship.
"Rev 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and
are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy
feet, and to know that I have loved thee." This is not an
endorsement that these true servants are God. It is considered just an
honor for the true servants of God.
(5).
The wise men from the east came to worship Jesus when he was born and they
worshiped the baby Jesus. Because the wise men worshiped the baby Jesus,
most
Christians
are convinced that the baby Jesus was God, even though the Bible says that 'the
Word' became flesh.
"John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," Again, look at the
verses of the wise men really say. Their enquiry was not "where God
was born?" But, "where the king of the Jews
was born?"
"Matt 2:1
... Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the
Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
...
11 And when they were come
into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down,
and worshipped him:"
They said that they came to worship the king, and nothing about God.
They
did worship him as a king, giving him presents. This incident is not proof
that Jesus of Nazareth was God.
General: There are more verses to say that Jesus of Nazareth,
the Son of Man, was worshiped. Watch the verses carefully.
You will find that he was worshipped either as a great teacher, great healer,
great miracle worker, Son of
God, as a man used of God, etc. But, he was never worshiped as God. Thomas called him
"My Lord and my God", which happened after the resurrection that is after Jesus
has received all powers (omni-powers) from God. It did not happen when Jesus of
Nazareth was a man. "Matt 28:18
...Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth.
John
20:28 And
Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God."
God is God, no matter we worship him or not. So also, just because we
worship a man, an idle, or Satan, etc, that worship will not make the person to
be God.
(F).
Question: Nobody has the power to forgive sins other than God.
Jesus forgave sins. Was he not God?
Answer: We
Christians understand that
God is the only one who can forgive sins. As it is true, we must know that God gave authority to
his servants also to forgive sins. Not only
Jesus
forgave sins, but
his disciples and the church were also given the
authority to forgive sins. "John
20:22 ...
Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted
unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Matt 18:17
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he
neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a
publican. 18 Verily I
say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
If it is the case then, if someone forgives sins, it is not proof that this person is God.
(G). Question:
Jesus of Nazareth raised the dead, healed the sick, and gave commandments.
If he was not God, how was he able to do all the supernatural works and give
commandments?
Answer: (i) A common man cannot do supernatural works. But, just
the doing of supernatural works are not proof that the person is God. God has
done miracles through Moses.
Pharaoh's
magicians were able to copy some of the miracles. Elijah and Elisa
have done many miracles, healed even leprosy and raised the dead. Apostle
Peter raised the dead. The disciples healed everywhere they went. People are
healed by the shadow of Peter and by the apron of Paul. All these men have done
the supernatural works by the power of God manifested through them. Jesus of
Nazareth,
the Son of Man,
also confessed that he was doing the miracles by the power of God, but not
by himself. "John 5:19
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son
can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things
soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him
all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these,
that ye may marvel." He confessed and said that he could do nothing
by himself without the power of God. If a person can not do anything by himself,
is he God?
Therefore,
Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Man, was never God, but a humble man who was used by God.
(ii)
Jesus preached the gospel and gave commandments.
But he confessed that he did not say anything of himself, but the Father taught him all
the things that he said. "John 8:28
--- that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I
speak these things
.
John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but
the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what
I should speak. 50 And I know
that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as
the Father said unto me, so I speak. In the Old Testament, God gave
all the commandments to Moses and Moses gave the commandments to the People. Moses
said about Jesus,
the Son of Man,
as follows:
"Deut 18:15
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of
thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; ...
18
I will raise them
up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and
will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I
shall command him.
Acts 3:22
.. Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God
raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all
things whatsoever he shall say unto you." The
Bible refers Jesus of Nazareth as a prophet just like Moses. We know that Moses was not God.
If then, how could Jesus of Nazareth, who was just like Mosses, be God?
(H). Question: Jesus gave eternal
life to the thief on the cross. If he is not God, how can he give eternal
life?
Answer:
This is an excellent passage in the scripture. Here, Jesus as well as the thief is dying. God can
not die and that is the reason he had to become a man to die as a Lamb of God.
The Lamb of God is a lamb, but not God.
"Heb
2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower
than the angels for the suffering of death."
Jesus, being a man, how could he pronounce a
declaration of God, even at the moment of his death? Let us read the reference.
"Luke
23:33 And when they were come to the place, which
is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the
right hand, and the other on the left…. 39
And one of the malefactors which were hanged
railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other
answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the
same condemnation? 41
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this
man hath done nothing amiss. 42
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in
paradise."
We know that Jesus of Nazareth always was the
mouth piece of God to speak the word on behalf of God. God the Father, who gave repentance to the thief, spoke
those words through the mouth of Jesus of Nazareth to the dying saint. He was
crucified as a thief, but died as a saint.
(I).
Question:
"John
10:30 I
and my Father are one.
John 14:9
…he that hath seen me
hath seen the Father…" Jesus of Nazareth said that he and God
the Father are the same. If it is so, was he not God?
Answer:
We all know that Jesus of Nazareth was not God the Most High, who is God the
Father. In the first reference, Jesus was pointing not only the abiding of God
the Father in him while he was a man, but also of the future oneness with God
the Father after his glorification. Not only Jesus is one with the Father, but
his disciples, who are his true followers, will also be one with Jesus and the
Father.
"John 17:23
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one...
John 14:20
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."
Will this claim make anybody to think that his disciples are God?
The second reference is a figure of speech. Nobody can see God. "Ex
33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face:
for there shall no man see me, and live."
Let us read the
context: "John
14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the
Father, and it sufficeth us. 9
Jesus saith unto him, 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?10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the
words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth
in me, he doeth the works. 11
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:" God the Father was abiding in Jesus
while he was a man. That is, God the Father had been living through his life and it
must have been seen through his life.
Here, Jesus of Nazareth emphasizes to Philip, not only the impossibility of
seeing the face of the Father directly, but also the possibility of seeing God
the Father through a man's life. Jesus was not
saying that he was God. But, Jesus just rebuked the
ignorance of his disciple Philip and told him to see
God the Father in his life and works.
(J).
Question: "John 10:33
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we
stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest
thyself God."
Jews were saying that Jesus claimed that he was God.
So, if Jesus claimed himself to be God, then he must have been God.
Answer:
Jesus of Nazareth never claimed himself to be God. It
was a false accusation of the Jews. Let us see the scripture.
"John 10:30
I and my Father are one.
31 Then the
Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I
shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews
answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and
because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
In verse 30, Jesus said that he and the Father were
one, referring to the abiding of God.
He was not claiming that he was God. Neither was he
making himself God.
As most Christians are taught to take such verses to interpret that Jesus of
Nazareth, the Son of Man, was God; these Jews also misunderstood that he was claiming
himself as God. So, they accused him of blasphemy. Further Jesus explains
to them that he was not making himself God but calls himself as the Son of God.
"John 10:36
… Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?"
You may read
section "(I and B)" also.
(K). Question:
"Matt 17:1
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John
his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them:
and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."
If Jesus of Nazareth was just a man, how could
he do this?
Answer:
Jesus of Nazareth did not do this. Previous to his crucifixion, he was
fearful and prayed to God that if it were possible to remove this cup from him.
God the Father sent an angel to strengthen him.
"Luke
22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove
this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there
appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."
Also, God the
Father came down with Moses and Elias to encourage him showing the future glory
as a vision and God the Father talked
even to his disciples.
"Matt
17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses
and Elias talking with him. 4
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if
thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses,
and one for Elias. 5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice
out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;
hear ye him… 9
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged
them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen
again from the dead."
It was a vision and it was the doing of God the
Father. In the vision; not only Jesus of Nazareth was seen in transfigured
body, but Mosses and Elias were also seen the same way. So, if Jesus of Nazareth
was God for this reason, then Moses and Elias should also be God. Is it not?
(L). Question: Since he
was the Messiah he was God.
Answer:
Messiah has three references. The first is that Messiah comes to Jerusalem
as a prince, which refers to Palm Sunday.
"Dan
9:25 … to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the
Prince…" The second is that Messiah be cut of as the Lamb of God, which
is on the cross "Dan
9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall
Messiah be cut off, but not for himself." The
third is that Messiah will come a second time to rule Jerusalem as Christ.
"John 1:41
… We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. John 4:25 The woman
saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ…."
Messiah was never referred as God anywhere in
the Bible.
(M). Question: If God is not God
for an hour, then he is not God at all.
God is not for part time. By this rule,
Jesus of Nazareth was God even while he was a man.
Answer: Your definition is
not from the Bible. In a desperate attempt to make Jesus of Nazareth God, you
are denying the godship of God the Word and the Lord Jesus Christ. According to
the Bible, the Word was God. "John
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God."
Then, the Word was made flesh, which is not God. "John
1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us…" Then, after his crucifixion
God raised him from his death, raised his rank above all things, and calls him
God. “Phil
2:8 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.
Heb 1:8 But
unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever."
So, the Bible says that God became a man and the same
man was made God.
(N). Question:
We are conceived in sin. But Jesus
was conceived in sinless flesh. This will make a huge tremendous
advantage, as Jesus began life in sinless flesh in strength, not being
effected by sin, like us. That is the reason that he was able to live
without sin and we will not be able to live without sin.
Answer: Your question is
from ignorance. Rom 8:3
…. God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
The word of God says that he was also born in the
likeness of sinful flesh, not the pure spotless perfect flesh to
have an advantage over us. In spite of the fact that he was born in the
likeness of the sinful flesh, he condemned sin in the sinful flesh.
Heb 4:15 For we have
not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. He was in sinful flesh, which could be
tempted. Yet he was without sin. You say that he did not sin because that
he has a sinless flesh. The bible says just the opposite. He kept himself
pure in spite of the fact that his flesh is sinful, which has the weakness
to fall in sin. Now, he challenges us, who also have sinful flesh, to
follow him and not to commit sin.
(O). Question:
I believe that true believers in Christ do not commit sin; that they
purify and sanctify themselves to be holy. And I do not commit sin. But,
the topic Jesus of Nazareth was a man and he is not God-Man, even though
it is very thought provoking, my spirit does not accept the idea as truth
and you are in error.
Answer:
The first three sentences of your question are astounding. They are great.
Then you say that the topic is thought provoking instead of saying whether
it is based on the scripture or not. You have dismissed the word of God
and let your spirit judge the topic. The word of God must decide, but not
your spirit. The scriptures seem to be in contradiction with your spirit.
John 12:48 He that
rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the
word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Here, Jesus Christ implies that rejecting his word is rejecting him. You
do not have to believe me, but believe the word of God.
(P). Question:
I am a child of God; one that has the mind of Christ. I have read your
article. I honestly have been lifting this topic up before the Lord. I've
asked Him that He would reveal the truth of His word to me. Yesterday He
substantiated what I knew was the truth. So, Jesus of Nazareth was both
God and Man while he was living on the earth.
Answer:
At first you have qualified yourself as
a person who is one with God as Jesus of Nazareth qualified himself as one
with the Father. Then you say that you have asked God whether my article
is true or what you already know is true. Then you say that God told you
yesterday that what you already know is the truth. Here, still your
statement is on one side and my article is on the other side. My article
is a presentation of many scriptures put together to see what God says
about the topic. God will not say that his word is wrong and your
knowledge is correct. Jesus Christ says in
Matt
24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
So, it is evident that something is wrong with your statement. Further,
the word of God does not say that Jesus Christ will talk to people in
these last days as you
have explained.
(Q). Question: I have read your articles a few
times. My concern is that when you call Jesus of Nazareth as a mere man, it is dishonoring
him, underestimating his Godliness, discounting him,
misrepresenting him, disrespecting his authority and power
while he was in this world and there is no reverence given him which he
richly deserves, and many other. We are to fear God and to give reverence
to him and he was and is always God. (This is shortened from a 2 page
writing).
Answer: You have
read my article, but without paying attention to the contents. The topic
is whether Jesus of Nazareth lived as man, as God, or as both. The topic
was not whether he lived as a mere man
or as a superman. You have done a good job showing that he lived a life
far above a mere man, with the power, grace and the Spirit of God. Then
you were taken by sentiment and said that he lived as God. But, the word
of God tells us that he lived as a man, but not as God.
At the end of your letter, you said that he
was and is always
God. You have added the word always to twist the fact.
Rev 22:13
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first
and the last. Revelation 1:11,17, & 2:8 also
say the same thing. Jesus Christ did not say always. He says
“I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and
the end, the first and
the last.” Notice:
He did not say that he was Alpha
to
Omega, beginning to
the end, the first to
the last. He was not God always. In the beginning he was God the Word. At
the end he is God the Son, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. In the middle God
became flesh man,
who was Jesus of Nazareth.
Phil 2:7
but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,
John 1:14 ... the Word
was made flesh, Rom 8:3 ...
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh .. The Bible says that God the Word has emptied himself
and he was made as sinful flesh, which was a piece of meat. I referred this
and said that he was born as a mere man, which means that he was born as
an ordinary man with no specialty in him. With the sinful flesh, he lived
a holy victorious life by the grace, power and the Spirit of God. It is
not an insult to him, but it is the truth so that those who are in sinful
flesh may also live a holy victorious life if they follow the life of
Jesus as he obeyed God and received strength from God.
Note: If any of you have any other question regarding this topic,
please write it to me. The e-mail form is given at the end of this article. I will reply your
letter in the light of the word of God. The question and answer may be added in this article.
4. Why is this Topic so Important?
Every Christian agrees that Jesus of Nazareth
lived a holy life with no sin. How he did it? The word of God says that he lived
a pure life as a man by the grace and the Spirit of God. If the Son of Man,
Jesus of Nazareth, was just a man and if he lived holy life by the grace and
Spirit of God, a common person like you and I can also live a holy life by the same grace and
Spirit of God that are available to humble and obedient people. Satan
confuses the people of God in this issue as he deceived Eve at the Garden of
Eden. Satan says that Jesus of Nazareth was able to live a holy life only because
he lived as God and Jesus could not have lived a holy life if he emptied himself
from being God and became just a man. But, look at the scripture verses.
"Phil 2:6
who, existing in the form of God, counted not the
being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the
likeness of men;" Standard version. Many
such verses in the Bible say that "God the Word" emptied himself, ceased to be
God and became a mere man to show mere humble men how to live a holy life that
is pleasing to "God the Father."
Satan and his servants
say, nobody can live a holy life anyway and so quit striving for it. But
the true servants of God are striving to make believers holy following the
example of Jesus of Nazareth. "Eph
4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for
the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come
in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
1 Peter 2:21 hereunto
were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin,
neither was guile found in his mouth:"
Please listen to Jesus Christ himself what he has told
to his churches. "Rev
3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant
to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne. 22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
Only a few people will overcome. However, if
you desire; you can also overcome as Jesus of Nazareth overcame being just a
man.
If we love God with reverential fear, we
will obey God - We will stop sinning.
Blessings of God
God, having raised up
his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you,
in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Acts 3:26
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and
the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
2 Cor 13:14
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: God Bless you all.
