You are filling out a job application and it asks you to provide three references. Whose names would you put down on that application that you trusted would properly give you a good report? Persons who know you the best. Right?
With regards to Jesus, his Father in heaven, his closest companions – The Apostles – and believe it or not, even the Devil would properly identify him.
Most of us – stubborn and headstrong humans – would not properly identify him. Why? Because the world in which we live – yes, the one Jesus said his kingdom is not part of – is fueled by lies, error, and deception. It does not serve the agenda of the god of this world to dispense the truth about matters of God and Christ. (John 18:36)
Did you know that back in 325 AD, at the Council of Nicaea, Bishops holding various religious beliefs debated this very same issue as well as other matters of doctrine?
Keep in mind that no official Bible was in existence at that time. These debates were so intense that they were beginning to lead to civil unrest among the various church groups who did not see eye to eye on doctrinal issues.
The deity of Christ was one of those issues hotly debated back then. It took a politician, Emperor Constantine, to step in between the opposing religious Bishops to stop the conflicts and squabbling. It was a politician – Emperor Constantine – who told the Bishops “This is how it is going to be.”
How was it going to be?
That Jesus is God. End of discussion! That the Father is God. That the Holy Spirit is God. This came to be known as the Nicene Creed (research the Athanasian Creed, too). This is the document from which the Trinity teaching sprang.
Jesus cautions about teaching the commandments of men as doctrine. Quoting the Prophet Isaiah at 29:13, Jesus says at Matthew 15:9 …
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (KJV)
That Jesus is God, was dictated into existence by a politician, dear reader !!!
Emperor Constantine was not a follower of Christ and neither did he care about Christians. He just wanted the squabbling between the opposing Bishops to stop. His solution was a doctrine that all would be happy with and would comprise on. See my article, “Is The Bible The Word of God.”
Now, one must ask themselves, “Was what Emperor Constantine dictate, in harmony with Scripture?”
Who Would Give Jesus a Good Reference?
If someone wants to know who Jesus is, why turn to the Church system in existence today that still, squabbles over the issue just like their predecessors did over 1680 years ago? You ask those who knew him the best.
What did Jesus’ disciples say of him? When Jesus asked his disciples who do they say he is, how did they answer?
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:15-16)
So we see here that Jesus’ closest companions while he was on earth, correctly identified him as The Son of God.
And what did Jesus say to Peter after that?
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:17)
If any person answers in a way contrary to what is said of Jesus at Matthew 16:13-17, it comes from another source because Jesus said that what was revealed concerning him came from his Father in heaven!
What about the person who sent His only begotten Son? What does He say of His Son?
Well, at Jesus’ baptism, and when he came up out of the water, what did a voice out of heaven say?
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17)
What about the transfiguration at Luke 9:35, what did God say concerning Jesus?
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
So we have two instances – and there are more – where the Most High God calls His Son – His Son.
Even Satan – even though he is a deceiver and a liar, knows the truth – correctly identified Jesus.
At Jesus’ temptation at Matthew 4:3:
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
And again at Matthew 4:6:
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
So what is the problem with those who believe that Jesus is God?
They have unwittingly engaged themselves in a debate stemming back some 1380 years ago. The men back then feared an Emperor more than God and listened to an Emperor. They did not listen to God, and the Church today isn’t listening. They are simply making a lot of noise and fighting against God.
If God says Jesus is His Son, the Church opposes what God says and says that Jesus is God. They are saying “God, Jesus is you.”
Can God Be Seen With The Human Eye?
I ask this question because it serves as a platform and teaching point that helps us to further identify from Scripture who Jesus is.
According to John 1:18, no man has ever seen God.
No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
According to Exodus 33:20, no one can see God’s face. To see it would mean death:
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
According to 1 John 4:12, no man has seen God:
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
According to Colossians 1:15, God is invisible:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
At John 10:36, Jesus says,
… what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?
Here, Jesus makes no claim to being God, but that he is God’s Son.
At John 17:8, when Jesus is in prayer to his Father in heaven, he shows that he is from God. He is in prayer to God, not in prayer to himself!
For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
The Apostle John, a Chose One of Christ, says of his Master at John 20:31:
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
In prayer to his Father at John 17:3, in heaven, Jesus acknowledges that there is only one true God and that he himself was sent by that one true God. Also, notice the conjunction and …
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
So, two persons are referred to here: The only true God and Jesus Christ who that only true God sent.
The Apostle Paul obviously knew the truth about God and Christ. Notice what he wrote about them at 1 Cor 8:6 …
… yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
The Apostle Paul identifies the one God as “The Father.” Then, he identifies the one Lord, as Jesus Christ.
Many erroneously think that God and Lord (uppercase “L” and lowercase “ord” are the same things. No! Lord means Head or Master. To help understand this notice what the Apostle Paul says at 1 Cor 11:3 …
But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
The woman has a Head or Lord over her, the man. The man has a Head or Lord over him, Christ. And, Christ has a Head or Lord over him, God.
Back in the Garden of Eden, Adam was Eves’ Head or Lord.
God did not lay the command concerning eating the fruit from The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad on the woman because she had not come on the scene yet. It would be her Head or Lord, Adam, who would pass on to her what God commanded him.
Is this not what Jesus did as God’s spokesman and representative? He told us what God gave him to tell us. That is why Jesus ALONE is The Word of God, not a book. Jesus said at John 12:49 …
For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.
At Acts 10:38, we read that it was God who anointed Jesus and that God was with Jesus.
… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Does God Have An Equal?
According to the Trinity teaching, Jesus is God. If this were true, then he would be equal in power, knowledge, and ability. What does Jesus himself say about this?
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. (John 14:28)
So God has no equal to him. The Father is greater.
Can God Die?
Is not God the Creator of the heavens and the earth? Is he not the sustainer of life? If God died, then nothing would be!
Notice what is written at 1 Peter 3:18 by the Apostle Peter …
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
Christ died! God cannot die, he is eternal. He has no beginning and no end. And, who resurrected him? Did he resurrect himself? No! His Father, the giver of life did.
Does Jesus Know Everything?
Well, if he is God you would think so. What do Scriptures – not the Church or religious organization – say about this? Better yet, what does Jesus say about this?
At Matthew 24:36 and at Mark 13:32, Jesus said concerning the time when his sign will be seen in heaven (His Coming) and the gathering of God’s Chosen Ones would occur, that he did not know. That information is known only by the Father in heaven. Quoting Mark 13:32, notice what Jesus says:
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
At Acts 1:6-7, Jesus said knowledge of times and seasons was only in the power or jurisdiction of the Father only.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
What About John 1:1? Does It Say That Jesus Is God?
Decades before The Apostle John, there was a Greek Philosopher by the name of Philo. In his philosophy he wrote this formula: “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.”
It must be understood that the texts and manuscripts of the Bible from Matthew to Revelation are written in Greek.
In John 1:1, there are two instances of God:
- In the beginning, was the word and the word was with God …
- And the word was God.
What was the Greek word for the first instance of God in John 1:1? The Greek word Theos means God, and Ho Theos means “The God.”
According to the system of Western nations, when there is a proper noun, they start with a capital, such as God. A common noun would have a small “g” such as god.
In Hebrew and in Greek, there is no such thing as capital letters and there is no such thing as small letters. The same holds true for the Arabic language, by the way.
The second instance of “god” in John 1:1 “And the word was God,” is Ton Theos. Ton Theos in Greek means “a god.” “A god” would have a small “g” according to the Western system.
So in John 1:1, why do the popular Bible translations place a capital “G” again in that second instance of “god?”
Is this not cheating and deceptive?
The first instance of God in John 1:1 is fine. It is correct and acceptable. However, the second instance of “god” in John 1:1 should not be a capital “G” but a small “g.”
The proper and correct translation of John 1:1 should be:
In the beginning, was the word and the word was with God and the word a god.
“A god” means someone who was godly. Such was Jesus.
The Devil is called “Ho Theos” or The God. We see the indefinite article – the -used with reference to the Devil being The God of this age.
In the second book of Corinthians, verse 4:4, we see the exact same Greek word “Ho Theos” (The God) used with regard to Satan the Devil.
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Him being “The god” of this age. But translators deviated and placed a small “g” in that Scripture. Why would translators not stay consistent in their translation? If Ho Theos is translated in the first instance of John 1:1 as “The God,” it should be the same with regard to what is said of the Devil in 2 Corinthians 4:4. But no, the early translators cheated and translated Ho Theos in 2 Corinthians 4:4 as “a god.”
This shows that the Scriptures were loosely translated and translated as one saw fit. Sadly, many today look the other way and go along with this deception because they want to make Jesus “Ho Theos” or [The] God. Their translations were not honest and today millions believe Jesus is God based on a dishonest foundation in the translation of Scripture.
Only One Is Good
Notice an exchange Jesus is having with a man at Matthew 19:16-17:
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Jesus refuses that he himself should even be called good! So how would he ask you and me to call him God?
With regard to the quality of goodness, a man or a woman might say to one another, “Good man or a good woman.” And, in humility, a man or a woman might say, “No I am not such a good man or woman because I have done and still do many bad things and have a lot of shortcomings.”
Yet, if Jesus is God, it would be hypocritical for those believing such because Jesus refused to be called good. God alone is good!
So in Jesus’ own words, he is disclaiming any type of divinity and that he is God.
Can God Be Tempted?
Jesus was tempted. You all know the account at Matthew 4:1-7.
Notice what the Apostle Paul says concerning Jesus’ temptation:
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. (Hebrews 4:15)
Jesus had the same weakness that you dear reader and I have. How can God have a weakness to be tempted by anyone?
Yet, James 1:13 says that God cannot be tempted. That Scripture says:
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.
Jesus was tempted was he not? Then how can he be God?
Scripture shows that Satan spent 40 days in the wilderness with Jesus tempting him. What is God (If Jesus is God) doing with Satan for 40 days? Now one must think. That God could be tempted by anyone! Is this a quality of God? God is God! He is Almighty.
Not to mention that Jesus felt hungry after the 40 days. Does God get hungry?
Recently and strangely, a YouTube content creator referenced 2 Peter 1:2 as a proof text that Jesus is God. He never explained anything. Below is 2 Peter 1:2 …
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
I see two persons mentioned here, not one and the same: God and Jesus Christ our (mankind’s) Lord. Again, I refer you to 1 Cor 8:6.
I caution against allowing persons to zip things past you without explaining them and reconciling the many other Scriptures that clearly identify Jesus as The Son of God.
Keeping it Real (Scripturally)
Those of you who cling stubbornly to the idea that Jesus is God is simply perpetuating a 1680-year-old debate. And, you are not listening to the voice of your Lord and Master or even your God and his God in heaven.
Additionally, you have a responsibility to teach Scripture clearly and right – not add to it or confuse it.
I tell you when persons I meet on occasion who believe that Jesus is God, they presume I know nothing. They never ask me what I think about Jesus. They almost always proceed to tell me who they say he is because their Pastor told them so or it is a Church doctrine that cleverly assumes itself a teaching of Christ.
Their loyalty and discipleship are really to their respective organizations, not to Christ. They rarely say “God says” or, “Jesus says.” They place what men say – who claim some special knowledge – before what God and Christ say. Especially when you hear them utter phrases such as “My Church teaches” or “My Pastor says.” What does God say? What does Christ say?
I am quietly letting them explain the rationale behind their belief that Jesus is God before I show them the Scriptures presented in this article.
What I find the most interesting in almost all of them, is that they bypass the Scriptures I present in this article. Furthermore, when I get an opportunity to explain to them from Scripture what you are reading now – and getting an opportunity to get a word in is a challenge – many of them get downright hostile. Many of them act as if the Scriptures I showed them are not supposed to be there.
I understand what has happened to them because it happened to me many years ago. I too used to believe that Jesus is God.
The Scriptures I present here may be painful to accept by those who are convinced that Jesus is God. They sting and upset the comfort zone. That is because they are truthful and go against the 1680-year-old squabble and Nicene Creed.
Those who cling to the Trinity teaching must consider that they are going to encounter persons out there – like myself – who have been where they are now and who will present these Scriptures to them and press them hard to explain why they are saying Jesus is God.
They may give the cop-out and canned response, “You are taking Scripture out of context? or use many words – as if giving a sermon or getting loud and emotional … but those things do not address nor answer the question.
These Scriptures speak for themselves. There is no taking or lifting out of context. There is only the refusal of those who believe that Jesus is God to see that they have been in error. Many even refuse to even examine.
OK. You were in error. That’s OK. So was I! That is how we grow and mature spiritually and in knowledge.
We should be thankful that we received a valuable gift from God: The Truth about His Son.
Here is a video. Enjoy!
