The Godhead And The Deity Of Christ Part I

Introduction This is a study of the Godhead; also called the Trinity, or the Tri-unity of God. The best definition of the Trinity is that there is only one God, but in unity of the divine and infinite Godhead there are three personalities, the Father, the Word (or Son), and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided. Again in simpler terms; There is only one God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three eternal and co-equal Persons; the same in essence but distinct in existence. Throughout the history of Israel and the church, there has been vast opposition to the concept of the Trinity of God. The question is; how can God be one, and how can God be three? Is this a contradiction? The doctrine of a triune Godhead is a stumbling block for many believers, but it is important to understand, because it is central to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit anticipates every single heresy that may arise concerning scripture, so that the saints of God are thoroughly furnished by the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, to discern both good and evil. II Timothy 3:16 II Timothy 3:17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

In church history, there have been five major errors concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. I’m going to discuss each one, and hopefully shed some light on any confusion about the doctrine of the triune Godhead and the deity of Jesus Christ.

I. The Five Major Heresies Concerning the Godhead A. Arianism Arianism Arianism is one of the first early church heresies. This heresy was founded by Arius in the 4th century. It was one of the most widespread and divisive heresies in the history of Christianity. As a priest in Alexandria, Arius taught that God created, before all things, a Son who was the first creature, but who was neither equal to nor coeternal with the Father. According to Arius, Jesus was a supernatural creature not quite human and not quite divine, and not eternal. I Corinthians Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of 12:3 God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

The name Jesus means "Jehovah is salvation", and the title Lord used in I Corinthians 12:3, Kurios in the Greek, means that Jesus is God. Lord: 2962 κύριος Kurios (koo'-ree-os); Noun Masculine, Strong #: 2962 In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Jewish Scriptures translated in the third century BC by seventy Jewish scholars, the Greek word, “Kurios”, is used as the Greek equivalent to Jehovah 6,156 times of the 6,832 times that Jehovah appears in the Old Testament. Also there are a number of Old Testament scriptures that speak of Jehovah, the personal name of God, which when they are quoted in the New Testament, are applied to Jesus. For instance: Isaiah The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the 40:3 LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. When that same verse is quoted in the New Testament, the personal name of God is applied to Jesus. John the Baptist declares that the same Jehovah that is spoken of in Isaiah 40:3, which is also called our God, is Jesus in Matthew 3:3. Matthew For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of 3:3 one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Also let us look at the prophecy in Joel chapter 2 and the fulfillment in Acts chapter 2: Joel And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and 2:28 your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: Joel And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out 2:29 my spirit. Joel And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars 2:30 of smoke. Joel The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and 2:31 the terrible day of the LORD come. Joel And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD 2:32 shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. The book of Acts declares that that Jesus is Jehovah spoken of in Joel 2:32. When quoting Joel chapter 2 and speaking of Jesus, Acts 2:21 reads: Acts But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 2:16 Acts And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit 2:17 upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: Acts And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my 2:18 Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Acts 2:19 Acts 2:20 Acts 2:21

And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The book of Acts makes it clear that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the only name that saves: Acts Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and 4:8 elders of Israel, Acts If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what 4:9 means he is made whole; Acts Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus 4:10 Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Acts This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head 4:11 of the corner. Acts Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under 4:12 heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. In I Corinthians 12:3, where it says that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost, there is an emphasis on the fact that Jesus is God. Unsaved men might mouth the words in order to call him Lord as in master, and as we see from reading the book of Jude, some may even mouth the words for the purpose of deceiving a congregation about where their heart really is, but in order to recognize the deity of Christ and call Jesus the Lord our God, this can only be done with the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Arian doctrine denies that Jesus is the Lord. The Arian doctrine is still around us in various sects, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses (which is also called the watchtower bible and tract society) and also with Mormonism, which deny the eternal pre-existence of the Son by teaching that the Son was a created being, created by the Father. The watchtower society teaches that Jesus is the arch angel Michael. Hebrews For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day 1:5 have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? Hebrews And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And 1:6 let all the angels of God worship him. Jesus was never an angel. Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The significance of Jesus being the "firstbegotten" over all creation means that while he is still fully 100% God, he also came as a man, and in eternity, he was always the Son of God and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

When Michael the archangel contended with the devil over the body of Moses, he couldn’t do it on his own; he needed the help of the Lord. If Michael the archangel was the Lord, then he would be able to rebuke the devil in his own name. Jude Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the 1:9 body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. In light of the watchtower claim that Jesus is the arch angel Michael, and the claim that Jesus is not eternal, let’s look to the scriptures to see if this claim is biblical. God’s nature is first revealed in the Old Testament, and nothing about it changes as the New Testament adds more light. The attribute of being immutable, which means not susceptible to change, is an attribute that is only ascribed to God. As we study scripture, we see this attribute is applied to both God the Father and to Jesus. o

Immutability (Not capable of or susceptible to change)

Father in immutable: Psalm 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17 Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Psalm 102:25 Psalm 102:26 Psalm 102:27

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

When we read that passage in Psalm 102, it tells us that God is the creator, and that God does not change. But when Psalm 102:25-27 is quoted in the Hebrews 1:10-12, it is attributed to Jesus thus showing that Jesus is God the creator, and that Jesus is God in His attribute of being immutable. When speaking of Jesus, and quoting Psalm 102:25-27, Hebrews 1:10-12 reads: Son is immutable: Hebrews 1:10-12; Hebrews 13:8 Hebrews Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy 1:9 God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Hebrews And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; 1:10 and the heavens are the works of thine hands: Hebrews They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a 1:11 garment; Hebrews And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou 1:12 art the same, and thy years shall not fail. Hebrews But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I 1:13 make thine enemies thy footstool?

Jesus is the creator of Heaven and earth, and Jesus does not change. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Jesus was never an angel. Angels are NOT to be worshipped. Even John, the beloved apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote concerning an angel in Revelation 19:10: Revelation And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it 19:10 not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. And Revelation 22:8-9: Revelation And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and 22:8 seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Revelation Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, 22:9 and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. If we are only to worship God, and Hebrews 1:6 tells us, “And let all the angels of God worship him,” then Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. All the disciples worshipped Jesus in Matthew 28:17 and none of them were rebuked for worshipping Him. Matthew Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where 28:16 Jesus had appointed them. Matthew And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 28:17 Matthew And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in 28:18 heaven and in earth. Matthew Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the 28:19 Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, 28:20 lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Jesus is worthy of that worship. And again; none of the disciples were rebuked for worshipping Him. On the other hand, there is a penalty for worshiping angels: Colossians Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and 2:18 worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Colossians And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands 2:19 having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. The deity of Christ and our Salvation Arians deny the deity of Christ, but the deity of the Messiah is an important part of Jewish and Christian faith.

Following the account of creation, sin entered into the human experience causing man to fall under the righteous judgment of God, never the less at the time of the fall, God provided for future redemption. While speaking with Adam and Eve and Satan, God tells Satan in Genesis 3:15: Genesis And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art 3:14 cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: Genesis And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and 3:15 her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; 3:16 in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Jewish Scholars agree that Genesis 3:15 is a Messianic prophecy. A Messianic prophecy is an Old Testament prophecy of or relating to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Genesis 3:15 was the first Messianic prophecy. In the context of biblical teaching, the statement, the seed of the woman, is very unusual. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, lineage was never reckoned after the woman, only after the man. In all the genealogies that we have in biblical record, women are virtually ignored because they are irrelevant in determining genealogy. Yet, the future person who would crush the head of Satan while suffering only a slight heel wound Himself, would not be reckoned after a man, but after a woman. Centuries later, it was the prophet Isaiah who explained why the Messiah would be reckoned after the woman. In Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah writes: Isaiah Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall 7:14 conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. The fact that the birth spoken of in Isaiah 7:14 was a sign, showed that God wanted to make a statement by using a miracle or a distinguishing mark in order to show a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent. If this was a normal birth, it would not fulfill the requirement of being a sign. The very existence of the Jewish people derived from a sign of a miraculous birth. Both Abraham and Sarah were both far beyond the point of bearing children. Abraham was ninety-nine years old, and Sarah was eighty-nine years old and far past menopause, when God promised that Sarah would conceive and bear a son within one year. This miraculous birth would be the sign that God will keep his covenant with Abraham and will make a great nation from him. A year later this sign took place with the birth of Isaac, through whom the Jewish people came. This miraculous sign authenticated the Abrahamic covenant. Genesis 17:7; Genesis 22:18

Genesis 17:7 Genesis 17:8

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Isaac The miraculous son of Abraham Genesis 17:15-19; 18:1-15; 21:1-8; Joshua 24:3; I Chronicles 1:28; Galatians 4:28; Hebrews 11:11 •

The birth of the son born of a virgin prophesied about in Isaiah 7:14 was also to be a miraculous sign; a birth taking place in an unusual way. This time the miraculous sign was not the age of the mother, it was the fact that the child was going to be born of a virgin. Area of Conflict? So now we have another area of conflict. There are those who want to teach that the Hebrew word, almah, does not mean “virgin”, but “young woman” or “maid” when translated in Isaiah 7:14. virgin: 5959 ‫` עלמה‬almah (al-maw'); Noun Feminine, Strong #: 5959 But what they fail to explain is how this would be used as a sign. A young woman giving birth to a child is not a sign because it happens all the time. In other passages where the Hebrew word “almah” is used as virgin, it clearly means virgin, like in Genesis 24:43 when referring to Rebekah, but Isaiah 7:14 is the only verse that seems to attract the attention of those that want scrutinize the language. But the Greek word “Parthenos” used for virgin in Matthew 1:23 & Luke 1:27 clearly means a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man. Matthew Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord 1:22 by the prophet, saying, Matthew Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they 1:23 shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. virgin: 3933 παρθένος Parthenos (par-then'-os); Noun Feminine, Strong #: 3933 The Jewish scholars, who first translated the Torah into Koine Greek in the third century BC, when translating the Hebrew word “almah”, used the same Greek word “Parthenos” in Isaiah 7:14 that was used in Matthew 1:23, which clearly indicates a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man. So clearly the Jewish scholars who translated the Septuagint recognized that the correct translation of the Hebrew word “almah” to

mean a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man. Matthew and Luke were quoting directly from the Septuagint when writing their Gospels. The only other Hebrew word used for virgin, bĕthuwlah, is also translated as maid seven times, and maiden five times in scripture. And when bĕthuwlah was used for virgin in Genesis 24:16, the words “neither had any man known her” had to be added in order to reiterate her virginity. In Joel 1:8, bĕthuwlah refers to a widow grieving for her husband. Those who deny the virgin birth claim that if Isaiah 7:14 were speaking of a woman who never had sexual intercourse, it would have used bĕthuwlah instead of almah. But if bĕthuwlah were used in Isaiah 7:14 instead of almah, then those who would want to deny the virgin birth would simply apply the other definitions of the word bĕthuwlah instead of virgin. virgin: 1330 ‫ בתולה‬B@thuwlah (beth-oo-law'); Noun Feminine, Strong #: 1330 Before I go on, if this sounds too confusing, I’m going to break it down and simplify it. There are two Hebrew words, and one Greek word that we should learn when it comes to being familiar with this argument. The first Hebrew word is “almah” H5959. It means virgin. It is translated as virgin four times, but it is also translated as maid two times and damsel one time. Each time it is used as maid and damsel, it can still mean virgin. The second Hebrew word is “bĕthuwlah” H1330. It means virgin. It is translated as virgin thirty-eight times, but it is also translated as maid seven times, and maiden five times in scripture. And when bĕthuwlah was used for virgin in Genesis 24:16, the words “neither had any man known her” had to be added in order to reiterate her virginity. In Joel 1:8, bĕthuwlah refers to a widow grieving for her husband. The Greek word is “Parthenos” G3933. There is no other definition to the Greek word Parthenos except for virgin. It is always used a woman who has never had sexual intercourse with a man, except for when it mentions a man that has never had sexual intercourse with a woman. (Revelation 14:4) Some of the adversaries to the virgin birth have even attacked the scholarship of Matthew and Luke for using the Greek word Parthenos when referring to the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 because Parthenos truly means virgin, but that was the exact word chosen by the Jewish scholars who translated the Septuagint from the Hebrew language to the Koine Greek, three centuries before the birth of Christ, which means that every Jew at the time who studied scripture knew that the Messiah was going to be brought into the world by a virgin birth.

The difference between almah and bĕthuwlah, the two Hebrew words that are used for virgin, is that “almah” is used for a virgin that is mature and ready for marriage, and “bĕthuwlah” is used for a virgin living with her parents or not betrothed, or pledged to be married. In the case of Joel 1:8, bĕthuwlah refers to a widow grieving for her husband, so a grieving widow would not be someone considered to be betrothed or pledged to be married. There is one more Hebrew word, na`arah, which is used as damsel, maid, maiden, and young woman, but does not indicate weather the woman being spoken of is a virgin or not, so this word would not be used to describe a miraculous sign. It would be like saying “young woman” in the English language. Is any thing too hard for the LORD? That is the question that is asked in Genesis 18:14. How powerful is your God? The true and living God is omnipotent which means he is all powerful. So the question isn’t could He? But did He make a virgin conceive? The answer to that question is yes. The prophecy of the miraculous birth in Isaiah 7:14 was the explanation of the mystery in Genesis 3:15. The Messiah will enter the world by the means of a virgin birth. Also His name was to be called Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. In the Hebrew Scriptures, whenever a parent names a child, it shows the mindset of the parents. The name indicates what character or accomplishments that the child is expected to have. With human parents this may or may not be true of the child, but when God gives a name to denote character, it is 100% accurate. Jesus is God with us. Jesus Christ is the promised seed in the Abrahamic covenant: Galatians Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And 3:16 to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Christ was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 and Isaiah 7:14. God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. Galatians Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of 4:3 the world: Galatians But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made 4:4 of a woman, made under the law, Galatians To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption 4:5 of sons. Also, According to Revelation 12:17, those which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, are also the seed of the woman and the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. The church is His body according to I Corinthians 12:12, 27; Ephesians 5:30. Revelation And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with 12:17 the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have

the testimony of Jesus Christ. And of course; the woman being spoken of in Revelation 12:17 is Israel. Isaiah 9:6 spoke of the Messiah and predicted that He would some day rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem and would fulfill the covenant that God made with David. The Messiah would come into the world as a human child through the virgin birth. Isaiah For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be 9:6 upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. As a child he was born, but as a son he was given. Through the virgin birth He is a child born, with reference to his human nature. But as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world He is a son given, with reference to his divine nature. John For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever 3:16 believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Let’s take a look at the titles given to the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6: -

His name shall be called Wonderful. The Hebrew word for Wonderful, “Pele”, in Isaiah 9:6 is a word that is ONLY used of God.

- Wonderful: 6382 ‫ פלא‬Pele' (peh'-leh); Noun Masculine, Strong #: 6382 wonder, marvel wonder (extraordinary, hard to understand thing) wonder (of God's acts of judgment and redemption) -

His name shall be called “Counsellor”. How is Jesus our Counsellor? o Jesus is the mediator between God and man. (I Timothy 2:5) o Jesus is interceding on behalf of believers. (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24) o Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father and our Comforter. (I John 2:1) Jesus loves you, and you can turn to Him when you are in time of need. Jesus grants us everlasting comfort and good hope through grace (II Thessalonians 2:16-17). Also Jesus promised his disciples that He would send another (allos = another of the same kind) Comforter to abide with the saints forever. We have a comforter with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day 4:30 of redemption. You can not grieve someone that doesn’t love you. The Arian doctrine teaches that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force, but God the Holy Spirit loves you, and He is our Comforter and Teacher in His ministry to be our Counsellor. Counsellor & Comforter: John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7; I John 2:1

John 14:16 John 14:17

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

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His name shall be called The mighty God. The term “The mighty God” is a term that is only used of God.

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His name shall be called The everlasting Father. The term “The everlasting Father” is a term that is only used of God. It means father of eternity.

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His name shall be called The Prince of Peace. The term “The Prince of Peace” is a term that can be used for both God and man, yet it is something that only God can accomplish.

Isaiah Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the 9:7 throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. In a recent conversation with a person from the watchtower society, I was told that there is a difference between mighty God and Almighty God. This is the argument they use to discredit Isaiah 9:6, but it is also the closest that they will come to actually admitting that Jesus is the Mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace spoken of in Isaiah 9:6. I’ve never encountered this argument before; but Scripture clearly states that the mighty God is the LORD God Jehovah. Three examples that prove this is scripture are: Psalm A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called 50:1 the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. In Jeremiah 32:18 Jehovah is called “the Great” and is also called “the Mighty God”: Jeremiah Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son 32:16 of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying, Jeremiah Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great 32:17 power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Jeremiah Thou showest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity 32:18 of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Jeremiah Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the 32:19 ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: Jeremiah Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and 32:20 in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;

Jeremiah 32:21 Jeremiah 32:22 Jeremiah 32:23 Jeremiah 32:24

And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror; And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey; And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them: Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.

In Habakkuk 1:12 we see mighty God being applied to the personal name of God. Habakkuk Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall 1:12 not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. Those are just three examples that show that their argument is incorrect. If you do a word search, you will see more examples of where mighty God and Almighty God are used interchangeably. Even though the Mighty God vs. the Almighty God argument is new to me, the Holy Spirit anticipated this heresy thousands of years in advance through scripture. Revelation Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also 1:7 which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Revelation I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, 1:8 which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Jesus Christ is the Almighty. Clearly both Almighty God & Mighty God are both used of Jehovah in the Old Testament, and Almighty is used of Jesus in the New Testament. This argument appears to be a desperate attempt to handle the word of God deceitfully. II Corinthians Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we 4:1 faint not; II Corinthians But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in 4:2 craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. II Corinthians But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4:3 II Corinthians In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which 4:4 believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. II Corinthians For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your 4:5 servants for Jesus' sake.

God told Christians to witness to the Jew first (Romans 1:16). The Jews believed in the deity of the coming Messiah. The deity of the Messiah was never a question in the early church. The Jews were able to recognize the signs of the Messiah, and were able to look at the works of Jesus to see if Jesus was really the true Messiah. For instance in Matthew 11:2-6: Matthew Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his 11:2 disciples, Matthew And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 11:3 Matthew Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things 11:4 which ye do hear and see: Matthew The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and 11:5 the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Matthew And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 11:6 The Jewish people, who studied the scriptures, recognized that Jesus fulfilled these Messianic signs in Isaiah 35:5-6: Isaiah Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be 35:5 unstopped. Isaiah Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in 35:6 the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. Q. What were some of the signs that the coming Messiah was really the Messiah? The Bible tells us the "I.D." of the Messiah. His ethnic background, His place of birth, the time frame of His arrival and other identifying characteristics are given. These credentials enable us to identify the Messiah, and to recognize imposters. What, then, are some of the credentials of the Messiah? There are over three hundred and forty prophecies about the first coming of the Messiah, and ALL of them were fulfilled by Jesus. For instance: • • • • •

Messiah was to be born at Bethlehem: Micah 5:1-2 Fulfilled Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-6 Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah: Genesis 49:10 Fulfilled Hebrews 7:14 Messiah would present himself by riding on an ass: Zechariah 9:9 Fulfilled John 12:14-15 Messiah would be tortured to death: Psalm 22 Fulfilled Matthew 27:34-50; John 19:17-30 (Psalm 22 contains 11 prophecies) Messiah would arrive before the destruction of the Second Temple: Daniel 9:2427 Fulfilled in 70 AD and prophesied about by Christ Matthew 24:2; Mark 13:2

All of these passages were recognized by the early Jewish scholars as referring to the Messiah. In detail as to His lineage, His birthplace, the time frame of His arrival, and lifestyle, it was Jesus who matched the Messianic expectations of the Hebrew Scriptures.

The record of the fulfillment of these Messianic prophecies is found in the pages of the New Testament. Clearing Up another False Claim There is another false claim that must be cleared up. That is the claim that Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah. Jesus repeatedly made it clear that He was the Anointed One of God, the Messiah, the Christ, and the Savior of the world. So why are false teachers going around saying that Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah? Jesus Christ clearly claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God: •

John 4:25 John 4:26

Jesus told the Samaritan woman that he is the Messiah (John 4:25-26) The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

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Jesus affirmed Peter's statement that he is the Messiah and Son of God (Matthew 16:15-17; Mark 8:29-31; Luke 9:20-23)

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Jesus told the high priest that he is the Messiah and Son of God (Matthew 26:6364; Mark 14:61-62; Luke 22:70-71) But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

Mark 14:61 Mark 14:62 Mark 14:63 Mark 14:64

Jesus told us that He is the Messiah that was sent to die for the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:28), but we have to believe Jesus in order to have salvation. As a Christian, faith is very important, but salvation comes from what we believe in. John For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever 3:16 believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world 3:17 through him might be saved. John He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is 3:18 condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:36

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

In John 5:17-18, the Jews understood that Jesus was equating himself with God: "he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God" (John 5:17-18). John The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him 5:15 whole. John And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he 5:16 had done these things on the sabbath day. John But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 5:17 John Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken 5:18 the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. After Jesus tells the scribes and Pharisees if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also, in John 8:19, Jesus tells them: John I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that 8:24 I am he, ye shall die in your sins. The italics in the King James Bible are the marks of an honest translation. No one added these words to mislead us, or to change the word of God. Whenever the translators added a word, when translating from one language to the next, they put it in italics to inform the reader that the word was added. In John 8:24 the word “he” was added because it is in italics, so when we remove that added word we see the words of Jesus read; for if ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins. Jesus is the God of Israel: Exodus And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and 3:13 shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? Exodus And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say 3:14 unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Jesus is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. John 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. Abraham knew Jesus and rejoiced to see Jesus’ day. Abraham knew that God would provide “Himself” as a sacrifice. Genesis And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, 22:7 Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

Genesis 22:8

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

As a person who used to write songs and poems, I like wordplay, and cleaver use of words. For example: Paronomasia Noun 1. A humorous play on words; Know Jesus Know peace. No Jesus No peace. A pun (also known as paronomasia) is a play on words that transposes the meanings of words with similar sounds. This is usually for humorous effect, although one well known pun of serious intent is found in the Bible. In the English language we use puns for the purpose of humor, but the bible uses puns through out scripture. In Genesis 22:8, I like the word play that is used. It is saying one thing, but it has two totally different meanings. God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. Not only will God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering (We see that in the ram caught in a dense growth of bushes by his horns in Genesis 22:13), but God will provide Himself as the lamb for the burnt offering. We see that in Hebrews chapter seven, which tells us that God offered up Himself as the sacrifice. Hebrews For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, 7:26 separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Hebrews Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his 7:27 own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. We must believe on Jesus, the son of God, in order to have salvation. Hebrews 11:6 tells us just how important faith is: Hebrews But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God 11:6 MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews chapter eleven lets us know how important faith was to the Old Testament saints, as well as in our present day. The fact that we needed a redeemer was something that was also known by the Old Testament saints, so the coming of a future Messiah was something that the Old Testament saints were looking forward to. John Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 8:56 John Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen 8:57 Abraham? John Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 8:58

John 8:59

Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

 Jesus Christ Acknowledged by the Old Testament saints Genesis 17:1; 48:15,16; 32:24-30; Hosea 12:3-5; Judges 6:22-24; 13:21,22; Job 19:25-27 Abraham recognized Jesus as Almighty God in Genesis 17:1, Jacob recognized Jesus as having the face of God in Genesis 32:30, Joseph recognized Jesus as the God of his fathers in Genesis 48:15, Gideon recognized Jesus as the God of peace and built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom in Judges 6:24, Manoah and his wife recognized Jesus as God in Judges 13:22, and Job recognized Jesus as the redeemer in Job 19:25-27. Jesus is the God of peace, Jesus is our redeemer, and Jesus is God. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Verse 14 tells us who the Word is: John And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, 1:14 the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Those who depend on the Gnostic Alexandrian translated text may depend on a bible that translates John 1:1 differently than the authorized text, so here is something to consider: Seven times in scripture, God tells us that He is the first and the last. When encountered with question of the deity of Jesus Christ, I want to point out these eight verses: (These verses point out the deity of Christ in any translation; even the New World Translation which is the bible of the Watchtower Society.) • 1. Isaiah Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the 41:4 LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. • 2. Isaiah Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I 44:6 am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. • 3. Isaiah Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also 48:12 am the last. • 4. Revelation Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, 1:11 write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. • 5.

Revelation And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon 1:17 me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: Revelation I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, 1:18 Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. • 6. Revelation And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the 2:8 first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; • 7. Revelation I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 22:13 - Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, Jesus is the first and the last, and Jesus is God. Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

B. Sabellianism / Modalism / Modalistic Monarchianism Modalism is the denial of the three personalities in the Godhead. Modalists hold the belief that the Heavenly Father, Resurrected Son, and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one personality, not three. They believe that only one personality puts on three "faces" or "masks"(Grk. prosopa) of the different roles in the Trinity. They teach that whenever God wants to reveal Himself as the creator, he would put on the mask of the Father, and when He wants to reveal himself as a redeemer, He would put on the mask of the Son, and when He wanted to reveal Himself as a Sanctifier, He would put on the mask of the Holy Spirit. Today this is taught by different segments of the Christian population like the “Jesus Only Movement” or “Oneness Pentecostals”. Modalism churches often accuse those that believe in the Tri-unity of the Godhead of teaching three gods or Tritheism. This is not what the Trinity is. The correct teaching of the Trinity is that there is one God in three eternal coexistent persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." I John 5:7

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

These three are one because there is only one God. Modalism denies the three, just like Arians deny that the three are one. Jesus is one with the Father, but when referring to the Father, He says that there is another that beareth witness of me: John 5:30 John 5:31 John 5:32

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

In the New Testament Scripture, Jesus and the Father are counted as two witnesses: John

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth

8:12 John 8:13 John 8:14 John 8:15 John 8:16 John 8:17 John 8:18 John 8:19

me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

Both Adjective 1. (used with count nouns) two considered together; the two. Both means more than one: II John 1:9 II John 1:10 II John 1:11

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

There is only one God, but in the unity of the divine and infinite Godhead there are three personalities; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit of one substance, power and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided. The word "Trinity" is a term that is not found in the Bible but a word used to describe what is obvious about God in the Scriptures. The Bible clearly speaks of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. So where did the term “Trinity” come from? The term: "Tri" meaning three, and "Unity" meaning one, Tri+Unity = Trinity. It is a way of acknowledging what the Bible reveals to us about God, that God is yet three "Personalities" who have the same essence of deity. Trinity, The • Doctrine of the Trinity proved from Scripture Matthew 3:16,17; 28:19; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:3-6; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; I Peter 1:2; Jude 1:20,21; Revelation 1:4,5 Benediction given in name of (Father, Son, Spirit) II Corinthians 13:14 •

II Corinthians

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion

13:14

of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

• Baptism administered in name of (Father, Son, Spirit) Matthew 28:19

Matthew 28:19 Matthew 28:20

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

“Oneness Pentecostals” teach that if you were baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that you were not baptized right, and that you need to get re-baptized in the name of Jesus only. This is not only a heresy about the Godhead; it is a heresy concerning salvation. •

SALVATION THE WORK OF

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: II Thessalonians 2:13, 14; II Thessalonians 2:13 II Thessalonians 2:14

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. - Through sanctification of the Holy Spirit. - And called by the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Titus 3:4-6; Titus But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 3:4 Titus Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved 3:5 us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 3:6 Titus That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal 3:7 life. - the kindness and love of God our Saviour according to his mercy he saved us. - by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; - Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: I Peter 1:2 I Peter Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the 1:2 Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father - through sanctification of the Spirit - sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ

Salvation is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit which are of one power substance and eternity. First, because the Messiah is the second member of the Triune God, to believe in Jesus is to believe in one God. Second, from the Old Testament onward, God always had a mediator. Under the Mosaic Law, a person could not approach God directly through the sacrificial system but had to approach Him by means of God's chosen mediator, who was the Jewish High Priest. Just as the Old Testament believer needed to go through the High Priest, the New Testament believer must also go through the High Priest. In this case, the High Priest is Yeshua Hamashiach.

C. Socinianism / Dynamic Monarchianism Dynamic Monarchianism devaluates the Trinity by teaching that each person in the Trinity is a little lower than the previous. They teach that only the Father is God, and that the son is only a man that is a little lower than God, and that the Holy Spirit is a little lower than the Son and is only a divine influence. This teaching is common among certain religious cults. I John 2:22 I John 2:23

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Charles Taze Russell taught his followers that the doctrine of the "Holy Trinity" is not found in Christianity until at least three hundred years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and that the concept of a triune godhead likely comes from the traditions of paganism! This is false because the bible clearly teaches that Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets. What did the Old Testament reveal about the Messiah? The scriptures testify of Jesus Christ: John 5:39; Acts 10:43; 18:28; I Corinthians 15:3 John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Some claim that John 1:1 does not accurately reflect the deity of Christ. This is one of those passages that the church is accused of altering in 325 AD. To validate the accuracy of this verse, we should go to the writings of the church before this time period. Historic Christianity: Clement of Alexandria wrote about this very passage in 190 AD: “When [John] says: 'What was from the beginning [1 John 1:1],' he touches upon the generation without beginning of the Son, who is co-equal with the Father.’Was,' therefore, is indicative of an eternity without a beginning, just as the Word Himself, that is the Son, being one with the Father in regard to equality of substance, is eternal and uncreated. That the word always existed is signified by the saying: 'In the beginning was the Word' [John 1:1].”

Clement’s interpretation of John 1:1 is consistent with the Trinity view and it was written at least 135 years before the Council of Nicaea. Clement also is not alone in this belief. Theophilus wrote in AD 160: For the divine writing itself teaches us that Adam said that he had heard the voice but what else is this voice but the word of God, who is also his Son. We can see that historic Christianity agrees with our modern interpretation of scripture. They testify to the deity of Christ. He was the Word of God, the Word was God, and the He eternally existed together with God. Jesus is equal with God. This is verified in scripture and by the testimonies of those who received the scriptures directly from the apostles.

Prophecies Respecting Christ • As the Son of God Psalms 2:7 o Fulfilled Luke 1:32,35; Acts 13:33 • As the seed of the woman Genesis 3:15 o Fulfilled Galatians 4:4 • As the seed of Abraham Genesis 17:7; 22:18 o Fulfilled Galatians 3:16 • As the seed of Isaac Genesis 21:12 o Fulfilled Hebrews 11:17-19 • As the seed of David Psalms 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5 o Fulfilled Acts 13:23; Romans 1:3 • His coming at a set time Genesis 49:10; Daniel 9:24,25 o Fulfilled Luke 2:1 • His being born a virgin Isaiah 7:14 o Fulfilled Matthew 1:22,23; Luke 1:27 • His being called Immanuel Isaiah 7:14 o Fulfilled Matthew 1:22,23

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His being born in Bethlehem of Judea Micah 5:2 o Fulfilled Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-6 Great persons coming to adore him Psalms 72:10 o Fulfilled Matthew 2:1-11 The slaying of the children of Bethlehem Jeremiah 31:15 o Fulfilled Matthew 2:16-18 His being called out of Egypt Hosea 11:1 o Fulfilled Matthew 2:15 His being preceded by John the Baptist Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1 o Fulfilled Matthew 3:1,3; Luke 1:17 His being anointed with the Spirit Psalms 45:7; Isaiah 11:2; 61:1 o Fulfilled Matthew 3:16; John 3:34; Acts 10:38 His being a Prophet like to Moses Deuteronomy 18:15-18 o Fulfilled Acts 3:20-22 His being a Priest after the order of Melchizedek Psalms 110:4 o Fulfilled Hebrews 5:5,6 His entering on his public ministry Isaiah 61:1,2 o Fulfilled Luke 4:16-21,43 His ministry commencing in Galilee Isaiah 9:1,2 o Fulfilled Matthew 4:12-16,23 His entering publicly into Jerusalem Zechariah 9:9 o Fulfilled Matthew 21:1-5 His coming into the temple Haggai 2:7,9; Malachi 3:1

Fulfilled Matthew 21:12; Luke 2:27-32; John 2:13-16 His poverty Isaiah 53:2 o Fulfilled Mark 6:3; Luke 9:58 His meekness and want of ostentatious Isaiah 42:2 o Fulfilled Matthew 12:15,16,19 His tenderness and compassion Isaiah 40:11; 42:3 o Fulfilled Matthew 12:15,20; Hebrews 4:15 His being without guile Isaiah 53:9 o Fulfilled 1 Peter 2:22 His zeal Psalms 69:9 o Fulfilled John 2:17 His preaching by parables Psalms 78:2 o Fulfilled Matthew 13:34,35 His working miracles Isaiah 35:5,6 o Fulfilled Matthew 11:4-6; John 11:47 His bearing reproach Psalms 22:6; 69:7,9,20 o Fulfilled Romans 15:3 His being rejected by his brethren Psalms 69:8; Isaiah 63:3 o Fulfilled John 1:11; 7:3 His being a stone of stumbling to the Jews Isaiah 8:14 o Fulfilled Romans 9:32; 1 Peter 2:8 His being hated by the Jews Psalms 69:4; Isaiah 49:7 o Fulfilled John 15:24,25 o

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His being rejected by the Jewish rulers Psalms 118:22 o Fulfilled Matthew 21:42; John 7:48 That the Jews and Gentiles should combine against Him Psalms 2:1-3 o Fulfilled Luke 23:12; Acts 4:27 His being betrayed by a friend Psalms 41:9; 55:12-14 o Fulfilled John 13:18,21 His disciples forsaking him Zechariah 13:7 o Fulfilled Matthew 26:31,56 His being sold for thirty pieces silver Zechariah 11:12 o Fulfilled Matthew 26:15 His price being given for the potter’s field Zechariah 11:13 o Fulfilled Matthew 27:7 The intensity of his sufferings Psalms 22:14,15 o Fulfilled Luke 22:42,44 His sufferings being for others Isaiah 53:4-6,12; Daniel 9:26 o Fulfilled Matthew 20:28 His patience and silence under suffering Isaiah 53:7 o Fulfilled Matthew 26:63; 27:12-14 His being smitten on the cheek Micah 5:1 o Fulfilled Matthew 27:30 His visage being marred Isaiah 52:14; 53:3 o Fulfilled John 19:5 His being spit on and scourged Isaiah 50:6

Fulfilled Mark 14:65; John 19:1 His hands and feet being nailed to the cross Psalms 22:16 o Fulfilled John 19:18; 20:25 His being forsaken by God Psalms 22:1 o Fulfilled Matthew 27:46 His being mocked Psalms 22:7,8 o Fulfilled Matthew 27:39-44 Gall and vinegar being given him to drink Psalms 69:21 o Fulfilled Matthew 27:34 His garments being parted, and lots cast for his vesture Psalms 22:18 o Fulfilled Matthew 27:35 His being numbered with the transgressors Isaiah 53:12 o Fulfilled Mark 15:28 His intercession for His murderers Isaiah 53:12 o Fulfilled Luke 23:34 His Death Isaiah 53:12 o Fulfilled Matthew 27:50 That a bone of him should not be broken Exodus 12:46; Psalms 34:20 o Fulfilled John 19:33,36 His being pierced Zechariah 12:10 o Fulfilled John 19:34,37 His being buried with the rich Isaiah 53:9 o Fulfilled Matthew 27:57-60 o

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His flesh not seeing corruption Psalms 16:10 o Fulfilled Acts 2:31 His resurrection Psalms 16:10; Isaiah 26:19 o Fulfilled Luke 24:6,31,34 His ascension Psalms 68:18 o Fulfilled Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9 His sitting on the right hand of God Psalms 110:1 o Fulfilled Hebrews 1:3 His exercising the priestly office in heaven Zechariah 6:13 o Fulfilled Romans 8:34; Hebrews 2:17; 4:14 His being the chief corner-stone of the Church Isaiah 28:16 o Fulfilled 1 Peter 2:6,7 His being King in Zion Psalms 2:6 o Fulfilled Luke 1:32; John 18:33-37 The conversion of the Gentiles to him Isaiah 11:10; 42:1 o Fulfilled John 10:16; Luke 2:32; Acts 10:45-47 His righteous government Psalms 45:6,7 o Fulfilled John 5:30; Revelation 19:11 His universal dominion Psalms 72:8; Daniel 7:14 o Fulfilled Philippians 2:9,11 The perpetuity of his kingdom Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 7:14 o Fulfilled Luke 1:32,33

Jesus Christ is our Passover: Christian symbolism in the Passover occurs early in the Seder (the Passover dinner). Three matzahs are put together (representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The middle matzah is broken,

I Corinthi ans 5:7 I Corinthi ans 5:8

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I Corinthians 11:24

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

wrapped in a white cloth, and hidden, representing the death and burial of Jesus. John 19:40

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

The matzah itself is designed to represent Jesus, since it is striped and pierced, which was prophesized by Isaiah, Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Following the Seder meal, the "buried" matzah is "resurrected," which was foretold in the prophecies of David. Psalm 16:10; Psalm 30:3; Psalm 49:15; Psalm 118:17; Psalm For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One 16:10 to see corruption. The Passover feasts of the LORD pointed to Jesus. When we do the Passover, we should know what it represents. Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

Christ is our Passover. I Corinthians 5:7 I Corinthians 5:8

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

When we read both the Old and New Testament Scriptures, we see each person in the Godhead responsible for the divine works that ONLY God can do. This is biblical evidence of the deity of Jesus Christ. Everything should be tried by the the word of God. Isaiah 8:20; Acts 17:11 Isaiah To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is 8:20 because there is no light in them.

•

EACH PERSON IN THE GODHEAD, RESPONSIBLE FOR DIVINE WORKS OF GOD.

Creation Father: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:4, 5; Psalm 102:25; Psalms 148:5; Proverbs 26:10; o

Genesis 1:1 Psalm 102:25 Psalm 102:26 Psalm 102:27

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Son: John 1:3; John 1:10; I Corinthians 8:6; Hebrews 1:10; Colossians 1:16 John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Colossians 1:16 Colossians 1:17

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Spirit: Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30 Job 26:13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Job 33:4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. o Source of eternal life Father: Romans 6:23;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Son: John 5:28-29; John 6:39-40; John 10:28; John 17:2; Philippians 3:21 John 10:27 John 10:28

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Spirit: Galatians 6:8 Galatians 6:8

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

o Raising Christ from the dead Father: I Corinthians 6:14;

I Corinthians 6:14

And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

Son: John 2:19; John 10:18 John 2:18 John 2:19 John 2:20 John 2:21 John 2:22

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.

John 10:17 John 10:18

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Spirit: I Peter 3:18; Acts 2:24; Hebrews 13:20; Romans 1:4 I Peter 3:18 I Peter 3:19 I Peter 3:20

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Sanctifier Father: Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8; 21:8; 22:9; Jude 1:1; o

Jude 1:1 Jude 1:2

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace and love, be multiplied.

Son: Hebrews 2:11; 13:12 Hebrews 13:12

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Spirit: I Peter 1:2; Romans 15:16; I Corinthians 6:11 I Peter 1:1 I Peter 1:2

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

When it comes to sanctification; Pilate asked the question, what is truth? The truth is the word of God which sanctifies the saints. John 17:17

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. o

Truth / True (God is the God of truth, Jesus is the truth, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth).

Father: Isaiah 65:16, John 7:28 Isaiah 65:16

John 7:28

That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

Son: John 14:6; Revelation 3:7 John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Revelation 3:7

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Spirit: John 16:13; I John 5:6 I John This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by 5:6 water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

o

Indwelling Believers

Father: Ephesians 2:22; II Corinthians 9:14; Philippians 2:13; I John 3:24; 4:12-13 I John 4:12 I John

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his

4:13

Spirit.

Son: II Corinthians 13:5; Romans 8:10; Galatians 4:19; Colossians 1:27 II Corinthians Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye 13:5 not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Spirit: Isaiah 63:11; Ezekiel 36:27; John 14:17; Romans 8:11; I Corinthians 3:16; I Corinthians 6:19; II Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 5:18; II Timothy 1:14; I John 4:13 I Corinthians 6:19

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Teaching Father: Isaiah 54:13; Isaiah 48:17; o

Isaiah 48:17

Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

Son: Luke 21:15; Galatians 1:12; Luke 21:14 Luke 21:15

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Spirit: John 14:26; John 16:13-15; I John 2:20 John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

o Inspiring the prophets Father: Hebrews 1:1;

Hebrews 1:1 Hebrews 1:2 Hebrews 1:3 Hebrews 1:4

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Son: II Corinthians 13:3; II Corinthians I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being 13:2 absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I

come again, I will not spare: II Corinthians Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, 13:3 but is mighty in you.

Spirit: Mark 13:11 Mark 13:11

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Author of all spiritual operations Father: Hebrews 13:21; o

Hebrews 13:20 Hebrews 13:21

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Son: Colossians 1:29; Colossians 1:27 Colossians 1:28 Colossians 1:29

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Spirit: I Corinthians 12:11 I Corinthians 12:8 I Corinthians 12:9 I Corinthians 12:10 I Corinthians 12:11

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Attributes ascribed only to God •

EACH PERSON IN THE GODHEAD IS DESCRIBED AS HAVING ATTRIBUTES THAT ONLY GOD CAN HAVE o

Eternal (The attribute of eternality does not merely mean that He will exist eternally in the future, which is something that is true of angels and saints. Eternality also means that He eternally existed in the past.)

Father: Romans 16:26; Psalm 41:13; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12; Isaiah 57:15; Micah 5:2 Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Son: Romans 1:20; Revelation 1:11; Revelation 1:17-18; Revelation 2:8; Revelation 21:6 Revelation 22:13; Revelation 22:13

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Spirit: Hebrews 9:14 Hebrews 9:13 Hebrews 9:14

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Omnipresent (Present in all places at all times. Satan can not be omnipresent.) Father: Jeremiah 23:24; o

Jeremiah 23:24

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

Son: Matthew 18:20; Ephesians 1:23; Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Spirit: Psalms 139:7 Psalm 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? Psalm 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. o Omnipotent (All powerful. Having unlimited power.) Father: Genesis 17:1; Jeremiah 32:17

Genesis 17:1

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Son: John 10:8; Luke 8:25; I Corinthians 15:25-28; Philippians 3:21; Colossians 1:16-17; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 1:3; Jude 1:24; Revelation 1:8 Hebrews 1:1 Hebrews 1:2 Hebrews 1:3 Hebrews

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more

1:4

excellent name than they.

Revelation 1:7 Revelation 1:8

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Spirit: Romans 15:19; Luke 1:35 Romans 15:18 Romans 15:19

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Omniscient (All knowing. Having infinite knowledge. The Father searches and tries the hearts and reins in Jeremiah 17:10 and the son searches the reins and hearts in Revelation 2:23 and the Spirit searches all things in I Corinthians 2:10.) Father: Jeremiah 17:10; Acts 15:18; o

Acts 15:18

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Son: Revelation 2:23; John 21:17; John 21:17

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Spirit: I Corinthians 2:10, 11 I Corinthians 2:9 I Corinthians 2:10 I Corinthians 2:11

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Holy Father: Psalm 89:18; Revelation 4:8; 15:4; o

Psalm 89:18

For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

Son: Acts 3:14; Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 10:17-20; 55:5; 60:9; Revelation 3:7 Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. Revelation And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is 3:7 holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Revelation I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: 3:8 for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Spirit: I John 2:20; Ephesians 4:30 in more than 90 places, the Bible calls the Spirit of God "the Holy Spirit." I John 2:20

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

D. Unitarianism / Universalism Universalism declares that Jesus is "a way," maybe even "the best way," but not "the only way" to the Father in heaven. So regardless of your belief system, we all get to the same destination; heaven. Unitarianism, in general, is the form of Christianity that denies the doctrine of the Trinity, believing that God exists only in one person. While there were previous antitrinitarian movements in the early Christian Church, like Arianism and Monarchianism, modern Unitarianism originated in the period of the Protestant Reformation. Under Faustus Socinus a strong center of Unitarian belief developed in Poland. In Transylvania, Francis Dávid laid the foundation (c.1560) for the Unitarian Church there. In the 17th and 18th century. Is Jesus the ONLY way to the Father in heaven? John 14:6 Acts 4:11 Acts 4:12 John 10:1 John 10:2 John 10:3 John 10:4 John 10:5 John 10:6 John 10:7 John

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

10:8 John 10:9 John 10:10

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus is the door, and Jesus is the judge. Only God will render final judgment o Final Judgment (It was taught throughout the Old Testament that ONLY God will render judgment. The work that was ascribed to God in the Old Testament is ascribed to the son in the New Testament. If the Old Testament teaches that only God is responsible for final judgment, and the New Testament teaches that Jesus is responsible for final judgment, then Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Father: 1 Chronicles 16:33; Psalms 9:7; 96:13; Ecclesiastes 3:17; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Daniel 7:9-10; John 12:47-48; Revelation 20:11-12; Psalm 9:7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. Psalm 9:8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

Son: Matthew 7:22, 23; Matthew 25:30-46; John 5:22-27; Acts 17:31; Acts 10:42; Romans 2:16; Romans 14:10; I Corinthians 4:5; II Corinthians 5:10; II Timothy 4:1; Jude 1:14-15; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 20:4; II Corinthians For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one 5:10 may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Divine Claims of the Messiah (In light of these claims, a decision has to be made weather you believe that Jesus is the Word of God or not.) A. Jesus claimed to have the closest possible relationship to God. 1. To know the Messiah is to know God. John 8:19

Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 14:7

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

God told Moses that no one can see Him and live. Exodus 33:20 Exodus 33:21 Exodus 33:22 Exodus

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall

33:23

not be seen.

Jesus appeared to Manoah and his wife. Judges 13:11

And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.

Judges 13:17 Judges 13:18

And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

secret: 6383 yalp Pil’iy (pil-ee’); Adjective, Strong #: 6383 1. wonderful, incomprehensible, extraordinary KJV Word Usage and Count secret wonderful (Used in Psalm 139:6) variant

1 1 2

Wonderful: 6382 alp Pele’ (peh’-leh); Noun Masculine, Strong #: 6382 1. wonder, marvel a. wonder (extraordinary, hard to understand thing) b. wonder (of God’s acts of judgment and redemption) KJV Word Usage and Count wonder Wonderful (Used in Isaiah 9:6) wonderfully marvellous

8 3 1 1

- Notice that the angel of the LORD did not say ‘a secret’; He said secret. Revelation 19:12 Revelation 19:13

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Because of this, Manoah thought that he was going to die when he saw the angel of the LORD. Judges 13:21 Judges 13:22 Judges 13:23

But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.

What Manoah and his wife saw was the express image of God. Jesus is the express image of God: Hebrews 1:1 Hebrews 1:2 Hebrews 1:3 Hebrews 1:4

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Jesus flesh was the veil. Hebrews 10:18 Hebrews 10:19 Hebrews 10:20 Hebrews 10:21 Hebrews 10:22

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

veil Pronunciation: \’vāl\ Function: noun : a covering body part or membrane: as a : velum b : caul veil: 2665 katapevtasma Katapetasma (kat-ap-et'-as-mah); Word Origin: Greek, Noun Neuter, Strong #: 2665 1. a veil spread out, a curtain a. the name given to the two curtains in the temple at Jerusalem, one of them at the entrance to the temple separated the Holy Place from the outer court, the other veiled the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place

I John 4:12

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

To see God in his invisible form would mean certain death like God explained to Moses in Exodus 33. But to see Jesus is to see the brightness of His glory. Philippians chapter two let’s us know that God took on the form of a servant. Philippians 2:5 Philippians 2:6 Philippians 2:7 Philippians 2:8 Isaiah 53:2 Isaiah 53:3 Isaiah 53:4

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary A full discovery of the glory of God, would overwhelm even Moses himself. Man is mean, and unworthy of it; weak, and could not bear it; guilty, and could not but dread it. The merciful display which is made in Christ Jesus, alone can be borne by us. The Lord granted that which would abundantly satisfy. God's goodness is his glory; and he will have us to know him by the glory of his mercy, more than by the glory of his majesty. Upon the rock there was a fit place for Moses to view the goodness and glory of God. The rock in Horeb was typical of Christ the Rock; the Rock of refuge, salvation, and strength. Happy are they who stand upon this Rock. The cleft may be an emblem of Christ, as smitten, crucified, wounded, and slain. What follows, denotes the imperfect knowledge of God in the present state, even as revealed in Christ; for this, when compared with the heavenly sight of him. is but like seeing a man that is gone by, whose back only is to be seen. God in Christ, as he is, even the fullest and brightest displays of his glory, grace, and goodness, are reserved to another state. 2. To see the Messiah is to see God. John 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. John 12:45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. John 14:9

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, Show us

the Father?

3. To receive the Messiah is to receive God. Mark 9:36 Mark 9:37

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

4. To honor the Messiah is to honor God. John 5:22 John 5:23

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

5. To have a unique oneness with God. John 10:27 John 10:28 John 10:29 John 10:30

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.

B. Jesus claimed to be the object of saving faith. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

C. Jesus claimed to have absolute dominion over His followers. Matthew 10:37 Matthew 10:38 Matthew 10:39

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

D. To have sovereignty over the laws and institutions of God. 1. He claimed lordship over the Temple. Matthew 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

2. He claimed lordship over the Sabbath. Matthew 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

3. He claimed lordship over the Kingdom of God. Matthew 16:19

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

4. He claimed to be Lord over the covenant. Matthew And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 26:27 Matthew For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of 26:28 sins.

5. He claimed absolute sovereignty over the laws and institutions of God. John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 15:7 John 15:8 John 15:9 John 15:10

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Another thing I want to say to those who aren’t sure if Jesus is the ONLY way, is that confessing Christ is the only way to eternal life. Confessing Christ is the only way to have eternal life: Confessing Christ is a test of being saints I John 2:23; 4:2,3

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I John 2:23

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

I John 4:2 I John 4:3

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

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Confessing Christ is an evidence of union with God 1 John 4:15

I John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. •

Romans 10:9 Romans 10:10

Confessing Christ is necessary for salvation Romans 10:9,10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

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Confessing Christ ensures his confessing us Matthew 10:32

Matthew 10:32 •

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Consequences of not confessing Christ Matthew 10:33

Matthew 10:33 Matthew 10:34 •

John 12:42 John 12:43 •

Mark 8:35 Mark 8:36 •

Romans 10:8 Romans 10:9 •

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

The fear of man prevented some from confessing Christ John 7:13; 9:22; 12:42,43 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Persecution should not prevent us from confessing Christ Mark 8:35-38; II Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:8-11 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Confessing Christ Must be connected with faith Romans 10:9 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to confess Christ 1 Corinthians 12:3; I John 4:2

I Corinthians 12:3

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Confessing Christ is the ONLY way to heaven. Jesus is come to save that which was lost. Matthew 18:11

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

II Peter The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is 3:9 longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

E. Tritheism Tritheism is the belief that there are three distinct, powerful gods, who form a triad. Generally three gods are envisaged as having separate powers and separate supreme Beings, or spheres of influence, but working together. Tritheism is the same as polytheism except it limits the amount of gods to three. There are ancient pagan religions that hold a tritheistic belief about their pagan gods. It is because of this that those who hold to the Arian belief, like the followers of Charles Taze Russell and the watchtower society, that it is taught that Christianity adopted a Tritheism belief from ancient Babylon. Any pagan tradition that has crept into Christianity over the years, can clearly be clearly be rebuked through scripture. The problem is, on top of pointing out these pagan traditions that have crept into Christianity, many cults will point to something that is clearly in scripture, and then tell you that the belief did not come into Christianity until hundreds of years after the death of Christ. The Triune Godhead consists of: 1.) Father 2.) Son 3.) Holy Spirit But these three “agencies” or persons are contained in ONE bodily image and that is in the bodily image of the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only bodily image or physical manifestation of the three. Ironically, there is no Christian group that claims to believe in or teach tritheism; the term is solely used as an accusation against others, somewhat similar to the usage of the word cult, in accusing a group of holding an alternate or distorted view of the Christian doctrine of Trinity. The main branches consider tritheism heretical. God is of one substance, power and eternity. Each member of the Godhead has the whole divine essence, yet the essence is undivided. There is only one God. Unity of God I Corinthians As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in 8:4 sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. I Corinthians For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as 8:5 there be gods many, and lords many,) I Corinthians But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we 8:6 in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. She·ma: the Jewish confession of faith made up of Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21 and Numbers 15:37–41 "SHEMA" is a name that signifies or is derived from: "hearing", "obeying".

Shema Yisrael (or Sh'ma Yisroel or just Shema) (Hebrew: ‫" ;שמע ישראל‬Hear, [O] Israel") are the first two words of a section of the Torah (Hebrew Bible) that is a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. The first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: Deuteronomy Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 6:4 Deuteronomy And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all 6:5 thy soul, and with all thy might. I John For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy 5:7 Ghost: and these three are one. "Hear, O Israel, Adonai Eloheinu Adonai is one. These three are one. How can the three Names be one? Only through the perception of faith; in the vision of the Holy Spirit, in the beholding of the hidden eye alone.…So it is with the mystery of the threefold Divine manifestations designated by Adonai Eloheinu Adonai—three modes which yet form one unity."1 - Zohar II:43b (vol. 3, p. 134 in the Soncino Press edition). A Christian quote? Hardly. The above is taken from the Zohar, an ancient book of Jewish mysticism. The Zohar is somewhat esoteric and most contemporary Jews don't study it, but there are other Jewish books that refer to God's plurality as well. •

A ground for obeying him exclusively Deuteronomy 4:39,40

Deuteronomy 4:39 Deuteronomy 4:40

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Mark 12:29 Mark 12:30 •

Isaiah 44:6

Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

A ground for loving him supremely Deuteronomy 6:4,5; Mark 12:29,30 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

ASSERTED BY o God himself Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:18,21 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

o

John 17:3

Christ Mark 12:29; John 17:3

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. o

Deuteronomy 6:4 Deuteronomy 6:5 o

Moses Deuteronomy 4:39; 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Apostles I Corinthians 8:4,6; Ephesians 4:6; I Timothy 2:5

I Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; I Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. •

Consistent with the deity of Christ and of the Holy Spirit John 10:30; I John 5:7; John 14:9-11

John 10:30

I and my Father are one.

I John 5:7

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

John 14:9 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, Show us the Father? John Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak 14:10 unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very 14:11 works' sake. •

THE UNITY OF GOD IS EXHIBITED IN o His greatness and wonderful works 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalms 86:10 o His works of creation and providence Isaiah 44:24; 45:5-8 o His being alone possessed of fore-knowledge Isaiah 46:9-11 o His exercise of uncontrolled sovereignty Deuteronomy 32:39 o His being the sole object of worship in heaven and earth Nehemiah 9:6; Matthew 4:10

His being alone good Matthew 19:17 o His being the only Saviour Isaiah 45:21,22 o His being the only source of pardon Micah 7:18; Mark 2:7 o His unparalleled election and care of his people Deuteronomy 4:32-35 The knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ is necessary to eternal life John 17:3 o

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John 17:3 •

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

All saints acknowledge, in worshipping him II Samuel 7:22; II Kings 19:15; I Chronicles 17:20

I Chronicles O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to 17:20 all that we have heard with our ears. •

Psalm 83:17 Psalm 83:18

All should know and acknowledge Deuteronomy 4:35; Psalms 83:18; Ephesians 4:4-6; I Timothy 2:5 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. I Timothy 2:5 I Timothy 2:6 •

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

May be acknowledged without saving faith James 2:19,20

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Worship

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To be rendered only to God Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7; 6:13; Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; John 4:20-24; Acts 10:26; 14:15; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10; 22:8

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Jesus was worshiped in a way that only God can be worshiped and He received it and welcomed it, showing that He claimed to be God Matthew 14:33; John 9:8; 20:28; Philippians 2:10; Hebrews 1:6

Thomas worshipped Jesus and called him, “My Lord and my God”. If Jesus was not God, then Jesus would have corrected Thomas. John 20:28 John 20:29 •

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Idolatry Forbidden Exodus 20:2,3; Deuteronomy 5:7; Exodus 23:24

Exodus 23:24

Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow: Isaiah I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and 45:23 shall not return, That unto me EVERY KNEE shall bow, every tongue shall swear. •

Romans For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, EVERY KNEE shall bow to me, and 14:11 every tongue shall confess to God. Philippians 2:9 Philippians 2:10 Philippians 2:11

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 9:6 commentaries - Wonderful http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0214.htm - Counsellor http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0215.htm