From the
preceding lessons, we've studied the scriptures that
"True Jesus" is indeed the
Christ the "Son of God" (Lesson-3G).
As the "Son of
God", the scriptures are also very clear that Jesus is
indeed a Man in nature and state of being
(Lesson 3H).
As a Man the
scriptures are consistently and unmistakably clear that the Lord Jesus Christ
is
a Man yesterday,
today, and forever (Lesson-3I).
Although Jesus is a Man, He is not an ordinary man but a
"Very Special Man" according to the His Apostles and His
disciples who knew Him very well.
But many
people still refuse to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is
a Man because of the many special attributes that
differentiate Him from ordinary man. And these special
attributes are
mistakenly used by other people to declare that Jesus is
God.
Let us
therefore continue our study of the scriptures so we may
come to know the truth. . . .
-
If the "True Jesus" is indeed God because of His special
attributes like. . .
- He committed no sin.
- He is Lord
- He is Savior
- He is the only Mediator between God and men
- He will judge the world on the Day of
Judgment
- Or, Is the Lord Jesus Christ a "Very Special
Man" who is distinct (separate being) from the "Only True God", the Father
in heaven (Lesson-2J).
Let us study the clear
verses written by Apostles in the Bible so we may come to know
why the "true Jesus" is a Man and not God, even though He possesses
special attributes that distinguishes Him from ordinary man.
This is to make people aware of the scriptural truth so they
cannot be misled or tricked to believe "another Jesus" who
is different from the "true Jesus" preached by the Apostles
(Lesson-3E).
Why Jesus is a "Very Special
Man"
3J.1
Why is the "true Jesus" a Very Special
Man?
In Acts 2:22, this is
written:
People of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus
from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly
showed this to you by the miracles, wonders, and
signs he did through Jesus. You all know this,
because it happened right here among you. (NCV)
The "true Jesus" is
not an ordinary man but was a "Very Special Man"
because . . .
God endowed Jesus Christ
with many great attributes which differentiates Him from all
men and these attributes are mistakenly used by other people
to declare Him God. Let us continue our study of the
scriptures so we may come to know the truth about the "true
Jesus" based on what is written in the Holy Bible.
A.
Jesus committed no sin
Many people
are led to believe
that Jesus is God because He committed no sin.
They argue that since all men sins and Jesus committed no
sin, therefore Jesus must be God.
Is this belief based on the truth written in the Bible? Or
Is this just one of the teaching that are used to deceive
people into believing "another Jesus" that was not taught by
the Apostles?
(Lesson-3E)
3J.2
Did Jesus committed no sin?
In 1 Peter 2:22, this is
written:
"He
committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth." (NAB)
The same verse in
another version of the Bible:
He never sinned, never told a lie, (LB)
Apostle Peter
declared:
3J.3
Why is Jesus the only man who
committed no sin?
In John 10:36, Jesus
Himself said this to the Jews:
can
you say that the one whom the Father has
sanctified and sent into the world is
blaspheming because I said, "I am God's Son'? (NRSV)
The same
verse in another version of the bible:
Do you say of him whom the Father made holy
and sent into the world, Your words are
evil; because I said, I am God's Son? (The Bible
in Basic English)
Jesus Himself said
that . . . . .
3J.4
Why did
God sanctified Christ Jesus then sent to the world?
In 2 Corinthians 5:21,
the answer is given:
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in
Him. (NKJV)
The same verse in
another version of the Bible:
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be
the offering for our sin, so that we could be
made right with God through Christ. (NLT)
God sanctified Christ
or made Him holy, so that . . . . .
What is the purpose of God in doing this?
- So that we might
become "the righteousness of God in Him" or so we
could be "made right with God through Christ".
3J.5
How could Jesus Christ be made the
offering for our sins so that we could be made right with
God through Him?
In Romans
3:25, this is written:
God
offered him, so that by his sacrificial death he
should become the means by which people sins are
forgiven through their faith in him. God did
this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous.
(Romans 3:25, TEV)
God
offered Jesus, so that by his sacrificial death He
should become the means by which people sins are
forgiven through their faith in him.
The fact that Jesus was
sanctified (freed from sin or made holy) by the Father (John
10:36), is undeniable proof that Jesus is a "Very Special
Man" for He is clearly distinct (separate being) from God who
sanctified Him or made Him holy. The very fact that
it is God who
offered Jesus, so that by his sacrificial death he (Jesus)
should become the means by which people sins are forgiven
by God through their faith in him (Romans 3:25), is another proof
that Jesus is not God but a
"Very Special Man" for God never die. Therefore,
the belief that Jesus
must also be God because He never sinned is not true.
Questions to
Ponder:
< Click for details |
If Jesus is indeed co-equal and
co-eternal, in one in essence, nature,
power, action, and will as God in the
Trinity (Lesson-2C.1), then. .
. . .
-
Why did Jesus himself say that "He
was sanctified or made holy by the
Father and sent into the world", if He is already God?
Are they not suppose to be co-equal
as one Triune God?
-
How can God offer Jesus to die on
the cross for people's sins if they are one and
the same
Triune God? Are they not suppose to
be co-eternal?
|
B. Jesus is Lord
Many people believe that
Jesus is God because Jesus is called Lord in the Bible. They
argue that since God is Lord they assume that Jesus must
also be God since He is also Lord.
Is this belief based on the truth
written on the Bible? Or Is this just one of the teaching
that are used to deceive people into believing "another
Jesus" that was not taught by the Apostles? ((Lesson-3E)
3J.6
How did the Apostles declare how
special Jesus really is to the Jews and residents of
Jerusalem?
In Acts 2:14 &36, Apostle
Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and
said:
14
Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other
apostles and shouted to the crowd, "Listen
carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of
Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.
36 So let it be clearly known by everyone in
Israel that God has made this Jesus whom you
crucified to be both Lord and Messiah!" (NLT)
The same verse in
another version of the Bible:
14. Then Peter stood up with the eleven,
raised his voice, and addressed them, "Men
of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem! You
must understand something, so pay close
attention to my words.
36. Therefore, let the entire house of Israel
understand beyond a doubt that God made this
Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ!" (ISV)
Peter with the eleven
Apostles, said to the Jews and residents of Jerusalem:
"You must understand something, so pay close attention
to my words".
What should be clearly understood beyond doubt?
That God made
Jesus, whom the people crucified, both Lord and Christ!
It is also very clear
from the Apostle's pronouncements that Jesus being Lord
is not inherent in Him because His Lordship was bestowed
to Him by God. Thus, to assume that Jesus is God because
He is Lord, will result to the absurd conclusion that
Jesus is God because He was made as such by another God.
The fact that it is
God who made Jesus both Lord and Christ is undeniable
proof that He is not God Himself but a "Very Special
Man", for He is clearly distinct (separate
being) from God who made Him
Lord and Christ.
3J.7
What did God do to Jesus and what was
the purpose of God in making Jesus both Lord and Christ?
In Philippians 2:8-9,
this is written:
8.
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point
of death--
even death on a cross.
9.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him
the name that is above every name, (NRSV)
Because of His obedience
to God, God exalted Jesus and gave Him the name above
every name,
What was God's purpose?
10.
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2: 10-11, NRSV)
The same verses in
another version of the Bible:
so that all created beings in heaven and on
earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will
bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and
call out in praise that he is the Master of all,
to the glorious honor of God the Father. (Philippians
2: 10-11,
The
Message)
God wants everyone to "bow
in worship" and "call out in praise" that Jesus Christ
is Lord to the glory or glorious honor of God the
Father. Please note, that Jesus in not being worshiped
just because He is God but He is being worshipped
because it is the will and for the glorious honor of God
the Father.
Why is worshiping the Lord Jesus
Christ to the glorious honor of God the Father?
"that all should honor the Son just as they honor
the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not
honor the Father who sent Him. (John 5:23, NKJV)
He who honors the Son honors
the Father who sent Him. Thus worshiping Jesus is for
the glorious honor of God the Father.
The scriptural fact that it was
God who made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts
2:36) is undeniable proof that Jesus is not God Himself but
a "Very Special Man", for He (Jesus) is clearly distinct
(not the same being)
from God who made Him to be Lord and Christ. The fact
that it is God's will for everyone to worship Jesus
(Philippians
2: 10-11), is further
proof that Jesus is not God Himself but a "Very Special Man"
for He (Jesus) is clearly distinct (a separate being) from God who exalted Him
and gave Him the name above every name. Therefore, the
belief that Jesus
must also be God because He is also Lord" is not true
and unscriptural. It also follows that worshiping Jesus does
not make Him God for there is only one
true God, the Father in heaven.
Questions to
Ponder:
< Click for details |
If Jesus is indeed co-equal and
co-eternal, in one in essence, nature, power,
action, and will as God in the Trinity
(Lesson-2C.1), then . .
-
Why is it still necessary for God, the
Father, to make Jesus Lord if He is
already God? Are they not
suppose to be co-equal and one being as God in the Trinity?
-
Why is worshipping Jesus for the
glorious honor of God the Father? Does
that mean that God the Father is greater
than Jesus? Are
they not suppose to be co-equal as God
in the Trinity?
|
___________________
C. Jesus is Savior
Many people believe
that Jesus is God because He is also called Savior in the
Bible. It is true that God the
Father is Savior (Isa. 45:21-22) and that Jesus Christ
is also Savior (John 4:42; Eph. 5:23). However, to assume
that Jesus is also God because He is Savior is to ignore the teachings of the Holy Scriptures on how and why Jesus
became Savior.
3J.8
How did
Jesus became Savior?
In the following verses,
these are written:
It
was Jesus, a descendant of David, whom God made the
Savior of the people of Israel, as he had promised.
(Acts 13:23, TEV)
God
exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior
that he might give repentance to Israel and
forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31, NRSV)
It is very clear that
Jesus became Savior because He was exalted and made as
such by God. Now, if one insist that Jesus is God
because He is a Savior, then comes the absurd conclusion
that Jesus became God because He was made as such by
another God.
3J.9
Why do we still need Jesus as Savior
if we already have the God the Father as Savior or for
salvation?
Questioning the authority
of the Man Christ Jesus as Savior is to overlook, the
biblical pronouncements on the manner through which the
Father will grant Salvation.
In the following verses, these are written:
And now--all glory to him who alone is God, who
saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord; . . . .
. . . . (Jude 1:24, Living Bible)
because he has fixed a day when the whole world will
be judged in uprightness by a man he has appointed.
And God has publicly proved this by raising him from
the dead." (Acts 17:31, NJB)
The Father who is the
only true God (John 17:1,3) will give salvation through
the "Man Christ Jesus", for God has appointed
the Man Christ Jesus to judge the world for Him.
3J.10
How can the Man Christ Jesus give
salvation if He is not God?
In the Following verses,
these are written:
"Listen to these words, fellow Israelites! Jesus
of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was
clearly proven to you by all the miracles and
wonders which God performed through him. You
yourselves know this, for it happened here among
you. (Acts 2:22, TEV)
Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all
the world there is no one else whom God has given
who can save us." ((Acts 4:12, TEV)
"and
has given Him authority to execute judgment
also, because He is the Son of Man. (John 5:27,
NKJV)
Jesus
spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and
said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son,
that Your Son also may glorify You, "as You have
given Him authority over all flesh, that He should
give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
(John 17:1-2, NKJV)
Jesus is a Man whose
divine authority was clearly proven by the wonderful
works that God performed through Him. Salvation is to be
found only through Jesus, for there is no one else whom
God has given authority to execute judgment and give
eternal life.
For
anyone to assume that the man Jesus cannot give salvation,
because He is not God, is
entirely wrong because it is contrary to God's will.
Jesus is a Very
Special Man who was made Savior by God and given the
authority to execute judgment and to give eternal life to as
many as God will give Him.
The fact that it is God
who made Jesus a Savior is undeniable proof that Jesus is
not God Himself, but a "Very Special Man" for Jesus is
clearly distinct (not the same being) from God the Father who made Him
Savior.
Questions to
Ponder:: |
If Jesus is indeed co-equal and co-eternal,
in one in essence, nature, power, action, and
will as God in the Trinity
(Lesson-2C.1), then .
-
Why did God the Father made Jesus a
Savior if He is already God? Are they
not suppose to be co-equal and one being as
one Triune God?
-
Why is there still a need for God to give Jesus the authority to
execute judgment and give eternal life
to as many as God will give Him if they
are one and the same Triune God?
Are they not suppose to
have
the same power, action and will as God
in the Trinity?
|
_____________________
D.
Jesus - The Only Mediator
Between God and Men
Many people also believe that
God became the man Jesus so He can represent men to God and
Jesus remain as God so He can represent God to men.
They explain that Jesus as God added human nature to his
divine nature in order to be a Mediator or go between God
and men. Is this the truth written
in the Bible?
3J. 11
What
is the truth that God wants all men to know in order to be
saved?
In Timothy 2:2-5, these
are written:
For
this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth. For
there is one God and one Mediator between God and
men, the Man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:3-5,
NKJV)
The same verse in the
New Jerusalem Bible:
To do this is right, and acceptable to God our
Saviour: he wants everyone to be
saved and reach full knowledge of the truth.
For there is only one God, and there is only
one mediator between God and humanity, himself a
human being, Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy
2:3-5,New Jerusalem )
This is what God wants
all men to know in order to be saved. All men must know that
"there is only one God" and "there is only one Mediator
between God and men", and that Mediator is the Man Christ Jesus.
Very clear indeed,
the Man Christ Jesus is the "only one Mediator" between
the "only one God" and men.
3J.12
How did Apostle
Paul clarified the truth that "the Man Christ Jesus is
indeed the Mediator between God and men"?
In Galatians 3:20, this
is written:
Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas
God is only one. (New American Standard
Version)
The
same verse in another version of the Bible:
Now there is no mediator when only one party
is involved, and God is one. (New American
Bible)
Christ being the
mediator could not be God at the same time, because that
would lead to the ridiculous notion that Christ is a
mediator of one.
First Party |
Mediator |
Second Party |
God (only
one)
|
The Man
Christ Jesus
|
Humanity
(many men)
|
It is however
perfectly correct to say that He (Christ), the mediator,
is Man, because there is not only one man but rather
many men, being mediated to the only one God.
3J.13
What further
proves that Christ Jesus "the only one Mediator between God
and men" is a Man and not God?
In Romans 8:34, this is
written:
who
is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes,
who was raised from the dead, who is at the right
hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? (RSV)
The same verse in
another version of the Bible:
Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus,
who died, or rather, who was raised to life and
is at the right side of God, pleading with
him for us! (TEV)
In Hebrews 10:10,12, this
is also written:
10.
By that will we have been sanctified through the
offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for
all.
12. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice
for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
(NKJV)
The scriptures is very
clear, Christ Jesus the "only one Mediator" between the
"only one God" and men is indeed a Man who pleads with
God on men's behalf.
The fact that the Christ
Jesus sits at the right hand of God proves that He is a Man
and not God himself, for how can He be at the right hand of
God, if He is also God Himself. Furthermore, the fact the Jesus
pleads to God on men's behalf undoubtedly proves that He is
not God himself, but a "Very Special Man", for He (Jesus) is
clearly distinct (not the same being) from God to whom He is pleading to.
Therefore, the belief that God became the man Jesus so He
can represent men to God and Jesus remain God so He can
represent God to men is not true for such belief is contrary
to the truth written in the Bible.
Questions to
Ponder: |
If
Jesus is indeed co-equal and co-eternal, in one
in essence, nature, power, action, and will as
God in the Trinity (Lesson-2C.1), then . .
-
What is the need for Jesus to be a
Mediator if He is also God? Is it not
absurd for Jesus to mediate men to Himself
if He is the same God He is mediating
for?
-
Why did Jesus sit at the right hand of
God if He is also God. How can they be
one being as one Triune God if God the Son
sits at the right hand of God the
Father? Are they not
supposed to be co-equal and one in
nature and power as one Triune God? How about God the Holy
Spirit?
-
Why is there a need for Jesus to plead
to God on men's behalf if He is God
Himself?
How can "God the Son"
pleads to "God the Father" if they are
one and the same Triune God? Are they
not suppose to be co-equal and one in
power, action and will as one Triune
God?
|
_________________
E.
Jesus - The Man Chosen by
God to judge the world for Him
Many people
believe that Jesus is God because He will judge people on
the Day of Judgment. They cite
verse John 5:22 saying "The Father judges no one, but has
given all judgment to the Son"(RSV) Then they argue,
"Who else can judge people besides
God? Jesus is God". However, to assume that
Jesus is God because He will come to judge people on the day
of judgment is to ignore the teachings of the Holy
Scriptures on how and why Jesus came to be chosen to Judge
the world in righteousness on the Day of Judgment.
3J.14 When Christ returns on
Judgment Day to judge the world, will He come to judge all
people as God or as a Man?
In Acts 17:31, this is
written:
He
has set a day when he will judge the world's people
with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to
do the judging for him. God has given proof of
this to all of us by raising Jesus from death.
(Contemporary English Version)
The same verse in
other version of the Bible:
because He has fixed a day in which He will
judge the world in righteousness through a Man
whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to
all men by raising Him from the dead." (NASB)
The verse is very
clear,
- "God has chosen
the the man Jesus to do the judging for Him".
Thus, the Man Christ
Jesus was chosen to do the judging for God.
What
is the proof that God indeed has chosen the Man Christ
Jesus?
- God has given
proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from
death.
Thus, Christ Jesus
will come to judge the world as a Man, not God, for God
has given proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.
The fact that Jesus was raised from the dead by God is
proof enough that Jesus is a Man not God.
3J.15 How will God judge the world
through the Man Christ Jesus?
In the following verses
these are written:
5. .
. . . . . . . For there is going to come a
day of judgment when God, the just judge of all the
world,
6. will judge all people according to what they have
done.
7. He will give eternal life to those who persist
in doing what is good, seeking after the glory
and honor and immortality that God offers.
8. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those
who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the
truth and practice evil deeds. (Romans 2:5-8, NLT)
according to the gospel that I preach, God, through
Jesus Christ, judges all human secrets. (Romans
2:16, NJB)
On the Day of
Judgment, God―the just judge of all the world, will
judge all people according to what they have done. He
will give eternal life to those who persist in doing
what is good. He will pour out His anger and wrath to
those who refuse to obey the truth and those who
practice evil deeds. According to gospel, God―the just
judge of all the world, judges all human secrets through
the Man Christ Jesus.
How
will the Man Christ Jesus make judgment for God?
In John 8:16, this is
what Jesus said to the Pharisees who were
questioning Him:
Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid;
for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the
Father {Other ancient authorities read [he]}
who sent me. (NRSV)
Clearly, even if
Jesus was chosen by God to do the judging, it is not
He alone who judges but He and God the Father who
sent Him.
3J.16 When will God send
the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the world in righteousness
for Him?
In Mark 13.32, this is
written:
"But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the
angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
(NKJV)
NO ONE KNOWS the day
or the hour when God the Father will send His Son, the
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for the second time to
judge the world in righteousness for Him.
Will
the Lord Jesus know the day and hour when the Father
will send Him?
Definitely not,
the verse clearly says that the Son does not know it
and neither does the angels in heaven.
Who
only knows about it?
The verse is
clear, "only the Father knows it".
"ONLY THE
FATHER KNOWS" when Judgment day will happen.
The fact that Jesus
does not know the day and the hour when God will send
Him for the second time undoubtedly proves that Jesus is
truly a Man and not God.
Questions to
Ponder:: |
If Jesus is indeed co-equal and
co-eternal and in one in essence, nature, power,
action, and will as God in the Trinity
(Lesson-2C.1), then . .
- What
is the need for God to choose Jesus to
judge the world on His behalf if they are
one and the
same Triune God?
-
Why did Apostle Mark say that only the
Father know the day and hour of Judgment
Day? How can God the Father
and God the Son be one and the same
Triune God if one knows and the other
does not know the date and hour of
Judgment Day?
|
Jesus is indeed a "Very
Special Man" for He is the Man chosen by God to judge the world
for Him. Being chosen to judge the world does
not make Jesus God, because there is only one true God, the
Father in heaven (Jn.17:3) who choose Him and who will send Him for
the second time on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, the
argument that Jesus is God because He can judge people is
not the scriptural truth and such belief will lead people to
the wrong way.
_________________
From
the forgoing topics the scriptural truth is
very clear that the "true Jesus" is a Very Special Man not
God even though He possesses special attributes,
bestowed to Him by God,
that distinguishes Him from ordinary men. Jesus committed no
sin; He is Lord; He is Savior, He is the only Mediator between God and men; He will judge the world on the Day of
Judgment. These special attributes does not make Jesus God as proven in
the forgoing topics, for Jesus Himself clearly teaches that
the "only true God" is the Father in heaven. By knowing the
scriptural truth may you not be misled or tricked to believe
"another Jesus" who is different from the "true Jesus"
preached by the Apostles.
__________________________