Most Bible critics are pretty quick to admit that the Father Whom Jesus speaks to in prayer is God and, of course, Christians readily agree because that is what the Bible teaches.
But what happens when we keep reading the Bible and we find a verse in which the Father addresses His One and Only Son, Jesus, as God?
Biblical Trinitarians hold to the deity of Christ because they do not come to the Bible with presuppositions or dictate to God what He can and cannot be. Rather, Trinitarians allow the Word of God to speak for itself because we know from years of research, study and personal experience that the Scriptures are reliable and true. We do not ignore the verses we do not like and read only the ones we do like.
When one allows the Bible to guide one's thinking rather than letting his presuppositions get in the way, a God of Complex Unity is Who one meets.
A God Who is beyond description, beyond the grasp of the feeble mind of man to understand.
If He wasn't, He wouldn't be God.
The first chapter of the Book of Hebrews presents just such a dilemma to those who deny that Jesus is God. A dilemma because it forces them to contend with a number of questions which can only be answered one way. Here is a portion of Hebrews 1:
1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him.
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
4 So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father, or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son?
6 When He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says, And all God’s angels must worship Him.
7 And about the angels He says:
"He makes His angels winds,
and His servants a fiery flame,"
8 but to the Son:
"Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of Your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.
9 You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, Your God,
has anointed You
with the oil of joy
rather than Your companions." Hebrews 1
Now, here are some of the questions that this passage raises for those who say Jesus cannot be God:
If Jesus is not God, why does the Father say Jesus created the universe?
Why do these verses say Jesus inherits all things?
Can a mere man inherit all of creation?
Why do they say that He sustains all things (meaning the same universe He created) by His word?
If Jesus is not God, why does the Bible say Jesus shares the throne with His Father? (scholars tell us that to sit at God's right hand is to share equally in His power and authority)
Why does the Father command all angels to worship Jesus since only God is worthy of worship?
And most importantly, why does the Father call Jesus God?
In describing the Son, the Father quotes the words of a psalmist who can only be speaking about YHWH the Creator:
25 Long ago You established the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 They will perish, but You will endure;
all of them will wear out like clothing.
You will change them like a garment,
and they will pass away.
27 But You are the same,
and Your years will never end. Psalm 102
No mere man could have established the earth.
No mere man could have created the heavens.
No mere man is eternal. Every one of us has a beginning and will have an end.
There are many more verses in the New Testament in which Jesus is called God.
There are many places in the Gospels where Jesus calls Himself God.
But in these verses we can clearly see Jesus portrayed by the Father as God.
When one comes to the Bible objectively, sans presuppositions, one can come to one conclusion and one conclusion only...
See also:
Who Says God Has No Son?
http://apologika.blogspot.com/2013/12/who-says-god-has-no-son.html
Can Man Become God?
http://apologika.blogspot.com/2014/03/can-man-become-god.html
Where Does Jesus Say, "I Am YHWH (God)" in the Bible?
http://apologika.blogspot.com/2013/12/where-does-jesus-say-i-am-yhwh-god.html
But what happens when we keep reading the Bible and we find a verse in which the Father addresses His One and Only Son, Jesus, as God?
Biblical Trinitarians hold to the deity of Christ because they do not come to the Bible with presuppositions or dictate to God what He can and cannot be. Rather, Trinitarians allow the Word of God to speak for itself because we know from years of research, study and personal experience that the Scriptures are reliable and true. We do not ignore the verses we do not like and read only the ones we do like.
When one allows the Bible to guide one's thinking rather than letting his presuppositions get in the way, a God of Complex Unity is Who one meets.
A God Who is beyond description, beyond the grasp of the feeble mind of man to understand.
If He wasn't, He wouldn't be God.
1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him.
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
4 So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father, or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son?
6 When He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says, And all God’s angels must worship Him.
7 And about the angels He says:
"He makes His angels winds,
and His servants a fiery flame,"
8 but to the Son:
"Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of Your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.
9 You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, Your God,
has anointed You
with the oil of joy
rather than Your companions." Hebrews 1
Now, here are some of the questions that this passage raises for those who say Jesus cannot be God:
If Jesus is not God, why does the Father say Jesus created the universe?
Why do these verses say Jesus inherits all things?
Can a mere man inherit all of creation?
Why do they say that He sustains all things (meaning the same universe He created) by His word?
If Jesus is not God, why does the Bible say Jesus shares the throne with His Father? (scholars tell us that to sit at God's right hand is to share equally in His power and authority)
Why does the Father command all angels to worship Jesus since only God is worthy of worship?
And most importantly, why does the Father call Jesus God?
In describing the Son, the Father quotes the words of a psalmist who can only be speaking about YHWH the Creator:
25 Long ago You established the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 They will perish, but You will endure;
all of them will wear out like clothing.
You will change them like a garment,
and they will pass away.
27 But You are the same,
and Your years will never end. Psalm 102
No mere man could have established the earth.
No mere man could have created the heavens.
No mere man is eternal. Every one of us has a beginning and will have an end.
There are many places in the Gospels where Jesus calls Himself God.
But in these verses we can clearly see Jesus portrayed by the Father as God.
When one comes to the Bible objectively, sans presuppositions, one can come to one conclusion and one conclusion only...
Jesus is God!
Who Says God Has No Son?
http://apologika.blogspot.com/2013/12/who-says-god-has-no-son.html
Can Man Become God?
http://apologika.blogspot.com/2014/03/can-man-become-god.html
Where Does Jesus Say, "I Am YHWH (God)" in the Bible?
http://apologika.blogspot.com/2013/12/where-does-jesus-say-i-am-yhwh-god.html
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