The Divine Nature of Jesus
firstcenturychristian
The fourth century church was wracked by a divisive controversy over the nature of Christ. The long accepted view was that Jesus shared the divinity of God the Father. That he had existed from eternity, being uncreated. To save mankind, He voluntarily came to earth and took a human body, without losing his divine nature. Thus he was God incarnate, or in the flesh. This view was championed by Athanasius of Alexandria in Egypt (296-373 A.D.). The leader of the new view that challenged the eternal and divine nature of Jesus was Arius, also of Alexandria (d. 336). The controversy was so intense it threatened the unity of the church throughout the Mediterranean world. The resolution of this issue was the occasion of the Nicean Council organized by Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D. Arius was condemned as a false teacher and his views were judged to be heretical. But the controversy raged for many years before Arianism gave way to the traditional biblical view. Remnants of Arianism have survived across the centuries. The most prominent group espousing this view in our day is the Jehovah’s Witness church. The denial of Jesus’ divine nature is a cardinal doctrine of their faith.
To understand this matter consider the following truths:
* The word "God" is not the exclusive name of the Father in heaven. It is a word that tells us about the nature of the Father. As God, he is all-wise, all-powerful, omni-present. He is perfectly righteous, holy and just. He is our sustainer, our provider and our judge. He is eternal. He is worthy of our worship. Other attributes could be listed but these illustrate my point.
* The writers of the Bible sometimes refer to Jesus as God.
1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth" (John 1:1, 14). The Word was God. The Word became flesh as the only begotten of the Father. These lines apply only to Jesus. Thus Jesus shares the nature of God with the Father.
2. "All things were made through him (the Word) and without him was not anything made..."(John 1:3). But "In the beginning God created the heavens and earth" (Gen. 1:1). Hence Jesus is God the creator.
3. When the apostle Thomas saw the resurrected Christ he confessed "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).
4. "...Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped..." (Phil. 2:6). Jesus existed in the form of God and was on an equality with God. That is, Jesus shares the very nature of his Father.
5. "but of the Son he (the Father) saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" (Heb. 1:8). Here the Father himself calls the Son God, thus we are fully justified in so doing.
6. We are looking forward to the "appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ..." (Tit. 2:13). Thus Paul understood that Jesus was our great God and Savior. We should do the same.
7. Jesus said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). But the Father is God and Jesus is one with Him. Hence Jesus is also God."
8. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God...the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8). But Jesus says that he is "the Alpha and the Omega" ( Rev. 22:12, 16). Hence Jesus is God!
* To see this truth about Jesus we must understand the word "Godhead" (Col. 2:9; Acts 17:29). This term refers to the divine government of the universe. The Godhead includes Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Together these three divine persons are commonly referred to as the trinity, i.e. the sacred Three. While Jesus is God in his nature, he is not the Father nor the Holy Spirit.
* It is essential that we understand that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, together, are the one Godhead. Each one has the nature of God. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3) but in so doing they lied unto God (Acts 5:4).
* The word Jehovah is also used to describe each of the Sacred Three. "I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no savior" (Is. 43:11 American Standard Translation). But Jesus is our great God and Savior (Tit. 2:13). Therefore Jesus is Jehovah.
* Much of the confusion surrounding this topic stems from a misunderstanding of the word "firstborn." In Colossians, Paul refers to Jesus as "the firstborn of all creation" (1:15) and the firstborn from the dead (1:18).The misunderstanding arises when students fail to distinguish between the three uses of the term firstborn.
1. It referred to the first male offspring of a Hebrew’s domestic animals. That offspring was devoted to God (Ex. 13:2,12).
2. It also referred to the first male child born to a couple (Ex. 13:2,22: 29). While the firstborn animal was sacrificed, the firstborn son was redeemed or bought back by the giving of a gift prescribed by God (Num. 18:15-16). This reminded the Children of Israel of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. They were allowed to keep their firstborn son, in exchange for their redemption gift that helped to support the Levites, and the priesthood. Thus Jesus was the first male child born to Joseph and Mary (although Joseph was not the literal father of Jesus). Thus the couple went to the temple to offer the sacrifice of the firstborn, according to the Law of God (Luke 2:22-24).
3. The term firstborn also was used to designate the son who would be the first, or principle heir of the father of the family. Upon the father’s death, the firstborn son became head of the clan, with authority over them. He was their religious leader. He also received a double portion of the father’s estate. Normally this inheritance would go to the first son to be born, but it was not always the case. If the son born first should prove himself unworthy of the office, the father could designate another, more worthy, son to be his "firstborn" heir. Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn son (Gen. 29:31-32), but he disgraced himself and dishonored his father by his involvement with his father’s concubine (35:22). Thus Jacob designated Joseph to be his firstborn. (This is seen in that he received a double portion among the tribes. Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh were treated equal to the other brothers’ tribes).
That Jesus is firstborn of the dead is easily seen. He was the first person to experience death and then be resurrected never to die again (I Cor. 15:20, 23).
That He was the first and only Son of God to be physically born of a woman is without dispute (John 3:16).
That he is the firstborn of all creation does not mean that he originated or was born or created first. John tells us he existed from the beginning (John 1:1-3). His throne is forever and ever (Heb. 1:8). Paul describes Jesus as our "King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God" (I Tim. 1:16-17). But God has designated Jesus as his chief or principal heir. The Son created all things and all things were created unto or for him (Col. 1:16). In this sense He holds the office of the Father’s chosen firstborn.
These passages should suffice to convince any honest soul that Jesus is eternal and shares Godhood with the Father. As such we should worship him even as we do the Father. The apostles worshiped the risen Christ (Matt. 28:17). Anyone who denies this fact does not truly and properly represent Jesus.
Article submitted Thursday, July 23, 2009 & read 35 times.
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