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-42- The God Who Is The Answer of Scripture The Testimony of John In John chapter 1, beginning with verse 1, we read. "In the beginning was the Word ..." John argues the Deity of Christ from His eternality. Jesus is eternal. "...And the Word was with God ..." If the Word, who is later identified as Jesus Christ (verse 14), was with God, then, John argues, He is Divine because he was in the company with the Father. He is therefore co-eternal with Him. "...And the Word was God." Here John argues the Deity of Christ from the fact that Jesus is consubstantial with the Father; i.e. He is of the same substance. "The same was in the beginning with God." Here, the apostle argues the Deity of Christ from the fact the Lord Jesus is co-equal with the Father. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Here, John argues the Deity of Christ by the fact that He is co-essential with the Father. The Testimony of Paul In Philippians chapter 2, beginning at verse 5, note: "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." When Jesus identified Himself as the Son of God, or when he affirmed that God was His Father (John 10:33), Jesus was in no way detracting from the glory of the Father. Instead of making a name for Himself, He "made himself of no reputation ..." Men who seek a reputation, or a name, do so for themselves, and not for God. But Jesus, "...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. "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." Note that the apostle exhorts us, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." In Colossians chapter 1, in verse 14, Paul wrote speaking of the dear Son of God "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" and that He is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" and that "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" (verses 14-17). The Testimony of The Book of Hebrews In Hebrews chapter 1, beginning in verse 1, we read, "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" (verses 1-4). The Testimony of The Book of Acts Paul charged the elders of Ephesus, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which he" (Note the context refers to the Holy Ghost) "hath purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28). This also seems to show the unity of the Godhead. Conclusion In that great hymn, "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing," Charles Wesley broke forth into a doxology when he wrote,
The apostle John was well within his right when he wrote, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11). ___________________________________ |
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