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Christ, Forgiveness, and the Cross

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20130607_xforgiveness

“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”
(Luke 23:34)

Jesus Christ, the God-man, committed the most scandalously humble act in human history: He made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born as a man who was obedient to the point of death, slaughtered by His own creation (Philippians 2:7-8). Try to wrap your mind around that one.

Shamefully, man was so proud to have done it. Sin blinded our eyes to the beauty of this Christ. And those who hated Him cried, “Crucify Him!!!” again and again. They would not settle for any ordinary death; it had to be one of intense suffering and shame. As Jesus, an innocent man, hung there, He opened his lips not to curse his oppressors but to plead with the Father on their behalf.

The root of man’s need

I love A.W. Pink‘s words on this:

The first important lesson which all need to learn is that we are sinners, and as such, unfit for the presence of a Holy God. It is in vain that we select noble ideals, form good resolutions, and adopt excellent rules to live by, until the sin-question has been settled. It is of no avail that we attempt to develop a beautiful character and aim to do that which will meet with God’s approval while there is sin between him and our souls. Of what use are shoes if our feet are paralyzed. Of what use are glasses if we are blind. The question of the forgiveness of my sins is basic, fundamental, vital. It matters not that I am highly respected by a wide circle of friends if I am yet in my sins. It matters not that I have made good in business if I am an unpardoned transgressor in the sight of God. What will matter most in the hour of death is, Have my sins been put away by the Blood of Christ?

The grounds of forgiveness

Every single one us us is born dead in our sins (Ephesians 2) and without life. There is no one perfect. Because of this sinful nature, you and I cannot justify ourselves before God. We can try, but we will fall short, every one of us. And guess what. God would still be a good God if He left us in this state, ushering each of us to suffer under his righteous wrath. The only ground on which a Holy God will forgive sins is this: One had to satisfy his good and righteous wrath in our place. And One did. His name is Jesus of Nazareth. Through Him, we have the forgiveness of sins.

“It is finished.”

Divine forgiveness is complete forgiveness. It is not half-hearted. It is not in need of additional labor or recompense. We don’t need to purify in purgatory. We don’t have anything to add to this free gift of salvation. It is finished.

If you are reading this as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then rejoice! Rejoice in the forgiveness of God which you have received through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

You are completely and eternally forgiven!

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,t he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
(Romans 8:1-4)

Comments

  1. To the Poster of this blog,

    Why do you refer to Jesus as the God-man?

    Jesus was just a man like you and I and God has always been and will always be.

    Jesus was born and died yet God is eternal.

    Jesus was tempted by the devil but God cannot be tempted.

    God is not a man that He should lie…

    Jesus prayed to God not to himself…

    Jesus is the mediator to between God and Man.

    All these statements are from versus in the Bible and to say Jesus is a God-Man is not truth and is a non Biblical term.

    ……………….Attributes of God……………………………….
    Throughout the Bible we see many scriptures that describe God, who He is, His nature and things that He is not. I have found this to be the base or foundation for my belief and understanding of Him who I love with all my heart or should I say I am learning to love with ALL my heart.

    Here are some of His attributes with supporting scripture references:
    – God’s name is Yahweh or Jehovah (Exodus 3:14)
    – Yahweh/God is the creator (Gen 1:1, Isa 40:28, Isa 43:15, Jer 32:17)
    – God is love (agape) (1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16)
    – God is eternal ( Deut 33:27, 1 Tim 1:17, Heb 9:14)
    – God is a spirit ( John 4:24, Heb 9:14) the holy (not unholy) spirit
    – God is all knowing or omniscient (Isa 40:28, Psalm 147:5, Mat 10:30)
    – God is everywhere present or omnipresent (Psalm 139:8, Jeremiah 23:23-24)
    – God is all powerful or omnipotent (Job 42:2, Luke 1:37, Jeremiah 32:17, 27)
    – God cannot be tempted (James 1:13)
    – God is not a man (Numbers 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29) however Jesus Christ is a man!
    – God is not a liar (Deut 32:4, Numbers 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29)
    – God is invisible (1 Tim 1:17)
    – God is immortal (1 Tim 1:17)
    As I mentioned these are but a few verses I have found to be very helpful for me to understand who God is. Can you come up with some more? It would helpful to me and others if you did.

    ******* Attributes of the man Jesus Christ ********************
    Now let’s take a look at who Jesus Christ is and some of his attributes. We, as Christians, can identify ourselves with him because he lived life on earth just like we do and went through many things like we do in our everyday lives but with one GREAT BIG exception, though tempted he never sinned (Heb 4:15), however we all have sinned (Romans 3:23).
    – Jesus had a beginning or he was born (Mat 1:16, Mat 2:1)
    – Jesus prayed to God (Mat 26:39, Mat 14:23, John 17:1-5, Rev 3:12)
    – Jesus had a body (Luke 23:52, Mark 15:23)
    – Jesus had a soul (Mat 26:38)
    – Jesus had a spirit (Mark 2:8, Luke 23:46)
    – Jesus was hungry and ate food (Mat 4:2, Mark 11:13, Mark 14:22)
    – Jesus sang songs (Mat 26:30, Mark 14:26)
    – Jesus did not know everything (Mark 13:32) God though knows everything
    – Jesus was a man (1 Tim 2:5, Mat 8:20) remember God is not a man
    – Jesus died (Mark 15:37-39, Luke 23:46) remember God cannot die
    – Jesus wept (John 11:35)
    – Jesus was tempted (Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2, Heb 4:15) remember God cannot be tempted
    – Jesus worshiped God (Heb 5:7) this is a man worshipping God not a one person of the trinity worshipping the other person of the trinity.
    – Jesus had his Father’s name (Jesus’ name mean Yahweh the Savior or Yahweh is Savior) (John 17:11)
    – Jesus is the first born of many brethren (Rom 8:29)
    – God, who dwelt in, or lived in Jesus Christ, did the miracles (John 14:10)

    I hope and pray this helps you come to a better understanding of who our Father (Yahweh) is and who Jesus is.
    Much Agape,
    Your servant,
    Andybob

    • Although the term God-man is not used in scripture, I believe it is a term which truly reflects a basic tenet of the Christian faith. One cannot truly understand who Jesus is if not considering the scriptures related to his deity.

      John 1:1-34 Explains that “the Word was God” and “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us”.

      Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

      Is 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

      Heb 1:8-9 “But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”

      Rev 1:7-8 “Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.'”

      Rev 1:17-18 “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.'”

      John 14:9 “Jesus replied, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?'”

      These are a few scriptures that came to my mind.

      In Christ,

      Ethan M

    • If Jesus was just a man, he could not have paid the price for our sins. Psalm 48:5-8 tells us that.

        • Thank you brother Eric,

          When our beloved Jesus our savour, bridegroom and friend was in the garden of Gathsemane Mat 26:36-46, he, the man, prayed to our Father Yahweh, to let this cup pass.

          The cup was the decision he had to make of whether or not to die for all mankind and pay the penalty of sin Rom 6:23.

          Eric can you see that this was a man praying to God not one god praying to another god?

          We learn that Jesus’ soul was sorrowful unto death and when he did die he he commended his human spirit unto our Father Yahweh Luke 26:46.

          God cannot die but Jesus did and is our mediator between God and us 1 Tim 2:5.

          God bless you dear brother, keep seeking, keep knocking and keep asking and it will be opened unto… The truth of who God is and who Jesus is.

          Agape,
          Your brother Andybob

          • You’re right that Jesus is a man, but He is also God. As mentioned, Psalm 49:5-8 says that a sinner cannot pay for a person’s sins. If he was just a man, his death meant nothing. But, because He is God, He was able to rise from the dead, conquering death for all who trust in Him.

      • 2 John 1:7-9
        Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

        For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we[a] do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

        Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

    • Andybob,

      You write quoting the scriptures, and yet you do not believe that Jesus Christ is God also, one with the Father though being His Son

      Jesus Himself said that the scriptures cannot be broken. John 10:35-36

      Why if Jesus Christ is not God, did doubting Thomas proclaim to Him “My Lord and my God” John 20:27-28

      Jesus said to the unbelieving Pharisees “I and My Father are one” John 10:30

      How is it that John the baptist declared “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” John 1:33. How can a man baptize with the Holy Spirit? Only He who is also God can do this.

      God begot Jesus to be born as a man, that God in mans flesh, made perfect might take all the sins of mankind upon Himself that whosoever believes in Him might have eternal life. John 3:16 Psalms 2:6-11

      If God in His eternal nature decided to make His own being His Son, to come in the flesh of man, who are you Andybob (or any other being for that matter) to question God?

      The Greek word for Christ = Messiah or annointed one. Jesus Christ is God’s Annointed One.

      Those who have taken the Son of God at His word, contrite in their heart, repentant that of ourselves nothing can save us but the Blood of the Lamb of God, who is Jesus Christ, and that through belief in Him, Jesus by faith such people will recognise the Christ as also God Himself.

      If Andybob, you truly have pride in the scriptures, which if so I commend it, then see in Psalms 45 that this is a scripture pointing us to the person and God, Jesus Christ and His divine appointment by His Father.

      Psalms 45:2 “You are the fairest of the sons of men, grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever”

      This teaches us of the person of Jesus Christ, God born into the flesh of man. But He, Jesus is also the Spirit of Grace because He, Jesus came into the world, God into man, to do the Father’s will and become the sole sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Hebrews 10:5-9

      God the Word, Jesus Christ by whom and for whom all were created John 1:1-2, Colossians 1:15-17, subjected His being, though being equal to God, to do His Father’s will, to do away with the Old Covenant of daily sacrifices and establish the New Covenant. Hebrews 10:9-10

      I do not lie Andybob, and the scriptures cannot be broken.

      Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even of death of the cross”

      This is of what the prophet Isaiah wrote when he declares that “truth is lacking, and righteousness stands afaroff” Isaiah 59:14-15

      So God sent Himself in the person of His own Son, to intervene where man could not, and to uphold righteousness, and to win the victory over sin and death Himself in Jesus by His cross, Jesus God’s own arm. Isaiah 59:12-17

      God annointed His God, Psalms 45:7 this being Jesus. Again I say to you He is God, just as the scriptures tells us, and just as Thomas declared My Lord and My God. Jesus being God has a throne enduring forever, it is divine and He loves righteousness. He is King and is royal. Psalms 45:6-7.

      Jesus Christ is God, He is God the Father’s mighty one. Psalms 45:3 and being the word of God, Jesus’ words are the sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17
      This is He who is written of in Revelation 1:16 and Revelation 19:15.

      I write to you Andybob in love. I know that mere human intellect cannot fathom that God is one yet He is three, being God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

      I write to you Andybob to repent. And for you to ask the Spirit of Grace to come into your heart and to reveal to you His presence.

      Jesus Christ asked this question of the Pharisees.

      “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?”
      “Now David said himself in the Book of Psalms: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”
      “Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son”

      How is it I ask you Andybob that Christ referring to Himself as Lord but also as David’s Son, calls Himself the Son of God?

      Jesus Andybob was Eternal, and always will be Eternal.

      In Christ

      Mark H NZ

      • …though being equal to God, to do His Father’s will,…

        work that word equal, what do you get?

        The word “pros” , what’s that mean?

        The greek word “pros” means — together with but separate.

        Now how do you read that verse?

        Jim

    • Andybob, how is it that you have missed Jesus prayer at John 17:5 NO MAN COULD SAY THIS. “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self WITH THE GLORY WHICH I HAD WITH THEE BEFORE THE WORLD WAS”
      if you think Jesus was a mere man like every other man, then you miss that He was conceived Of the Holy Spirit.
      If only could understand that Jesus is The God of the Old Testament, Who created everything, (Jn 1:3) He is also the God Who made the covenant (The Testator) of Hebrews 9:16. His death could only enforce what He Instituted.
      There is much more to be said, but it -needs the Holy Spirit

  2. Well Christ is 2/3 God, at least if you study the Word of God as a whole. I can’t find anywhere in the Word where it says” he (Christ) is God, but 2/3 yes.

    Technically can’t find it in the Word,

    A lot of believers say he is God, but getting into the Greek and Context of the whole matter, don’t see it.

    And whoever Addybob is, it makes since.

    Jesus has to be a man to save us, he just had to be. God’s plan to save us from our misery.

    Trinity is interesting though, I’ve been studying this for years and I can’t support it via the Word if you understand the Word for what it says and not what people say it says, anyway. Sorry I just can’t find it. If your really honest about anyway.

    Jim

  3. Heb 6:13
    A body was necessary for the redemption, propitiation, the perfect sacrifice.
    2Cor 5:21, Heb 9
    The saga of human being proves the accomplishment of this wondrous work of salvation to the glory of God. How can beings who err exist with perfection when the righteousness commit unrighteousness? Only in the perfect righteousness of the Lamb are we washed clean. We are His bride.
    Human being is challenged to begin to comprehend the mystery of God. Rev 21:22-27

    • Ya God’s don’t and does not have a BODY.

      Who proved the accomplishment? Did God? NO A man did–Jesus Christ accomplished what God said to do. And Jesus Christ all ways did His Will, which in return(just like us) do God’s will, and by doing God’s will–we make it our Will, just like Jesus Christ did.

      How can man who err exist with perfection? We don’t but Jesus Christ did. He set the example on how to listen to God and apply that perfect Love and power.

      Why do you think his ministry was only about a year long? Because when they picked a lamb, it would be only around a year old, interested isn’t it, its a truth most people don’t see. He was a man and that’s what the scriptures teach us and tell us. Now that’s being the perfect lamb of God. Notice the Word didn’t say “God the Lamb”, it didn’t did it.

      Why are we always trying to change the Word, God set it up that way, If Jesus Christ was God, God would have said it that way,”God the Lamb”. But He didn’t instead the Lamb of God.

      According to Eph.3 the mystery of God is Christ in YOU. Again–notice why didn’t God say it the other way,”God the mystery” meaning Christ being God in YOU. But He didn’t, instead He put just he opposite–YOU even mentioned it in that order–Mystery of God. There’s so many records that teach Jesus is a man and God is a God. AddyBob mentioned it well really.

      Jim
      God Bless everyone,
      Keep Studying it, were all trying to get to Peace and the rightly-divided Word is the only way to get there, other then that we have a false Love and comfort

      • John 1:14
        [ The Word Becomes Flesh ] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

        Jesus was fully God and fully man. Attempting to make him “just a man” like all of us is blasphemy plain and simple.

        Do you believe Jesus was resurrected and ascended Jim. And it’s a yes or no answer.

  4. The Word is God. Why? Because that’s who He is and What He is and He Heart and Will.

    The Word in the fresh, who would you think that would be? Jesus Christ. Why? he always did the Fathers Will or Word or Heart or His Desire. How? By the Word, How? By Rev. God working energizing with in him with the spirit He(God) gave to him. How? Spirit can only work with spirit, that’s how God can work with you. Cool a?

    How did the Word become flesh? Jesus Christ made it happen by his freedom of Will. Don’t you decide to renew your mind to God and His Word? Well Jesus had to do just the same, this isn’t hard to understand.

    “fully man” yes that’s truth. Can a God be tempted of the Devil? No, but man can and therefore Jesus Christ was, mmmm.

    Do I believe Jesus was resurrected from the DEAD? Yes.

    And ascended, YES. Isn’t that what God says happened in His Word?

    He had to, for us to have the Day of Pentocost, so therefore what happened on the Day of Pentecost? Christ in you is available now, for ANYONE, Jewdean and Gentile.

    Jim

  5. You may notice there was no trinity in the referenced scriptures. There is the body that was necessary for the sacrifice since it is impossible that God could die just like where God had to manage a way to confirm the promise to Abraham. God had to swear by Himself because there is none greater. God had to provide a body for the sacrifice.
    2Cor 5:14-21 is a pertinent passage yet I cited one verse of that passage expecting viewers to confirm that verse was not plucked contrary to the intent. Rev 13:8, Mat 1:20

    Rev 21:23 the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb [is] its light.

    None other are conceived of the Holy Ghost. Jhn 1:14, 18, Jhn 3:18
    The mystery of God is indeed true.
    Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

    • So your saying God Formed, made and created Himself again and therefore came as a Body and gave Himself a spirit to communicate to Himself.

      Doesn’t this sound really crazy? I know people say He formed and made a piece of Himself as a body to communicate to us as a living being. Wow just thinking about makes Jesus look stupid.

      Jim

      • Thank you Chris for your testimony.
        No man has seen God because human being cannot. What is the substance in the vial of the wrath of God?
        Exd 33:20-23
        Moses saw the glory of God, His previous works yet was denied His Face what He intended after that moment. So Moses, apart from a bush that did not burn, did not see an image of God. What is the image and likeness of God? The answer to this question is contrary to our lives and so is hardly comprehendible to those of the flesh. This truly is the mystery of God. Suspend evaluation that has no comparator in this matter.
        Isa 43:11-15, Rev 22:6, 16, Col 1:15-19, Col 2:2-3, 9, 1Th 3:11

        God is Spirit Who is one. He impregnated Mary to take on flesh that is the only way to enter this world. His kingdom is not of this world. Plainly, Jesus was that body that died yet that seed was planted and arose a body that lives evermore. The Lamb is the glory of God, whose glory?

  6. Just to sidestep this dialog for a moment and make a comment on Chris’s beautiful reminder of the much needed forgiveness of God for mankind and our propensity for sin. All fall short of the glory of God, (Rom 3:23) Each of us have turned to our own way ( Is 59:2)
    again…Romans 8.1-4
    Now to the dialog above and the question proposed… Chris clearly answered the question in the scripture reference given, Philippians 2:7-8.

    • Question then, How did God raise Himself from the dead, being 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the earth?

      Jim

      • Dear Jim and Andybob

        I give thanks to God that you are asking questions.

        If Jesus Christ is only man how is it that He has seen the Father?

        I ask you this because the Old Testament tells us God the Father is Spirit and that no man can look upon God and live. The apostle Paul writes also that “the Only Potentate, the King of kings and LORD of Lords dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see” 1 Timothy 6:15-16

        John 6:46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father” – this is Jesus who called himself the Son of Man speaking, He who proceeded from the Father. Is Jesus speaking here a liar? No I say. He and the Father are one. John 10:30

        Gentlemen I plead with you – turn from your sin and look, look to He, who declares I Am He, there is no Teacher but the Christ.

        I ask again what does ‘Christ’ mean? It means “Anointed”. The apostle Peter knew this taught by God. John 6:69

        Do not be like a pharisee searching the scriptures, looking for eternal life, John 6:39 without being willing to come to that life giving Spirit Jesus Christ who is also man. John 6:40

        Psalms 45:6 “Your throne, O God, [is] forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness [is] the scepter of Your kingdom.” This is teaching of the Christ, the same Jesus Christ.

        Why might you ask? The answer is in the next verse.

        Psalms 45:7 “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

        Who is the God that God is naming God and that God is ‘Anointing’?

        It is He who God begot, and who God calls also His God, the same Jesus Christ. God and Lord. The Holy One, Jesus Christ.

        ‘I AM’, is the name for the self existing God YAHWEH.

        I remind you that Jesus said to the unbelieving Pharisees “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 9:58

        Come to Him the fountain of living water. Jesus Christ, Son of God, and God.

        In God and Christ.

        Mark H NZ.

        • Amen Mark!
          1 Corinthians 1:4-31; 1 Timothy 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Timothy 6:20-21

      • Jim,

        Again a good question. And our answer is in asking our teacher the Christ to reveal it to us in God’s word, the Holy Sciptures.

        John 2:19-22
        Who was Jesus speaking of when He delcared to the Jews “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”? It was of course Himself being dead 3 days, notice how He declares that “I will raise it up”, ‘it’ being His own body as the apostle John teahces in John 2:20.

        At times when I tried to intellectually (by my mind) comprehend this, I have struggled. Why have I struggled?? Because scripture aslo tells me that the God of Jesus Christ raised Him from the dead “by the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” Ephesians 1:19-20. We know this speaks of the Father when looking in context at the preceding verses Ephesians 1:17-18.

        So I know that “scripture cannot be broken” John 10:35 and I know that neither God the Father nor His Christ are liars.

        How then can a man solve this matter?, that Jesus declares that He will raise Himself up after 3 days John 2:19 AND that also God the Father raised the Christ up after 3 days. Ephesians 1:20

        The answers are written for us to see and to believe. One answer is where the Lord Jesus declares “I and My Father are one.” John 10:30

        But to comprehend this by intellect alone, man cannot. “The riches of Christ are unsearchable” and it becomes an unsearchable matter for man in his own intellect to comprehend. Ephesians 3:8

        We must come with an attitude of contrite heart, sincere in seeking the truth, believing that the God and His Christ are One and that the Christ, being Teacher and one with God can alone reveal it.

        None know the Father but those to whom the Christ reveals Him as is written. Jesus is Lord and God.

        Our attitude to Jesus Christ should be the same as our attitude toward God the Father, an attitude of awe and reverence, trembling at our own Adamic tendency towards sin.

        In Christ

        Mark H NZ

  7. John 1:1
    In the begining was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was fully God
    1:2 The Word was with God in the begining
    1:14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory- the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

    Jesus the living Word of God, thats all I need to know…

    • Borthers and Sisters,

      In this short blog I have been accused of being a sinner and to repent, and anitchrist so says my brother and sister.

      I have stated in the attributes of God who He is and who Jesus is…

      One of the things that will help you to understand the words of Jesus is that when he, the man spoke, it was at times specific times God (Yahweh, our Father) “in” him.

      For example, “destroy this temple (the man Jesus Christ) and I will raise it up. God is the one that caused Jesus Christs’ spirit and soul to come back into his body.

      God caused Lazerus’s soul and spirit to combe back in to his body as well.

      How can I say this? That it was God the Father in Jesus Christ that said these words and did these miracles?

      Jesus himself said in John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

      Just as Yahweh, God the Father, spoke through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and all the prophets of old and of today he spoke through His son, the son of man, the man Christ Jesus.

      Now I have read the scriptures that many of you have brought forth in this blog and can answer them.
      I will over time but I want you each to remember that when one applies the principles of “hermeneutics” i.e. the study of interpretating of documents one can not take one scripture and shoe horn or force an intepretation into it.

      For example, John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

      It was God in Jesus speaking to the Jews and to us today when He said he saw Abraham.

      The same goes for Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane John 18:1-12. They came to arrest him and Jesus asked, “Whom seek ye?” and they said, “Jesus of Nazareth” and when he answered them he said, “I AM” and they all fell to the ground.

      This is once again the Father speaking out of His son Jesus showing that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Corinthians 5:19
      “…that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

      John 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:19 are just two examples of where we see it was Yahweh or God in Chirst doing the work of healing, prophesying and reconciling.

      One brother commented that Jesus had to be God to die for our sins Psalm 45:9-8. This is flawed logic because we both know that God cannot die. But Jesus the man, who was perfect because he did not sin, died for our sins.

      John the Baptist called him the “Lamb of God”. This pointed to the law that teaches us about lamb sacrifices and the high price of taking one life to give life to another.

      It boils down to this. When one reads the scriptures, especially the Gospels, one has to ask himself is this the man Jesus Christ speaking or is it the Father in him speaking?

      Our Father, the Almighty God, who is eternal, all knowing, everwhere present, Eternal, Love, Spirit and Creator of all life lived in Jesus Christ just as he lives in us.

      God bless each of you with love, grace and His salvation through Jesus Christ our lord,

      Your brother,
      Andybob

  8. Andybob

    Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

    Ethan, I thank God and the Lord Jesus for your words. You have summed up a Christian’s faith well.

    Hebrews 1:8-9 “But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”

    Andybob,

    Please answer the above 2 scriptures each speaking of the person Jesus Christ as God the Father’s God. The latter Hebrews 1:8-9 is from Psalms 45:6-7. Here the scriptures undeniably show us God the Father referring to His Son Jesus Christ as God also.

    We must enter by the door to the Father not by another way. John 10:1

    The root of mans need is to come contrite and repentant before God the Father to recieve His Son Jesus Christ in one’s heart. In recieving the Son, such a person has also the Father and the Holy Spirit as well as Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God in their heart.

    Jesus Christ spoke of Himself being “I Am”, hence while being the Son of God also being God.

    I plead with you, do not deny His attribute of being God also, it is a denial of the scriptures that you say you love.

    You write quoted below
    “For example, John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

    “It was God in Jesus speaking to the Jews and to us today when He said he saw Abraham.”

    I use your example to show you your error.
    I have the Son’s Spirit in my heart as well as the Father,and the Holy Sprit. BUT I can never say that I am ‘Jesus’. Such would be an antichrist, and it would be blaspheme.

    I have the Father’s Spirit in my heart BUT I can never say that ‘I Am.’ Again it would be blaspheme and that of an antichrist to say this.

    The Lord Jesus Christ could say that He was *(is) ‘I Am.’ Though accused of blaspheme by the Jews (Pharisees) He in fact spoke the truth, being the Way, the Truth and the Life, the fountain of living water, ‘I Am.’

    Jeremiah 17:12-13 Please read this and submit before Jesus Christ to know Him as who He says He is.

    In Christ and in love
    Mark H NZ

    • In Acts 9:5, Jesus speaks without a body.
      Psa 40:7, Heb 10:7, 1Sa 2:2, Psa 18:2, Psa 78:35, Rom 9:33, !Pe2:8, 1Cr10:4, Isa 45:21-23, Heb 13:8, We are given the name of our Savior, our Redeemer. Jhn 5:43, Mat 28:19, 16:27

      • 1Pe 2:8, 1Cr 10:4
        The flesh is an instrument for the Spirit. This is not understood apart from the Bible by beings who are animated in flesh and bones. Humans are prone to exalt physical heritage. Mat 12:48, Gal 3:29

    • Brother Mark,

      When I was in Bible College I learned about Isa 9:6. One of the things I did at the time I first learned about it was to see who it spoke about. Like you I believe it speaks about Jesus Christ the man.

      One of the key phrases that stands out to me when I read this verse the meaning of Jesus’s name.

      It says, “His Name shall be called”… Ask your self Mark… what does the name Jesus mean?

      For we both know this verse refers to Jesus Christ who at the time of the writting of this verse had NOT been born yet and Yahweh’s angel had not given the name he was to be called yet as he did give before his birth in Luke 2:21.

      Scholars agree the name Jesus means, Yahweh the Savior, or Yahweh is Savior or Yahweh saves.

      Jesus’ name has been “referred to” or it has been “called” the following throughout history:

      – Wonderful
      – Conselor
      – The Mighty God
      – the everlasting Father
      – The prince of peace

      His “name” is called these things but Jesus Christ was still a man that had a body, a soul, and a spirit just like you and I have 1 Th 5:23.

      – Jesus had a body (Luke 23:52, Mark 15:23)
      – Jesus had a soul (Mat 26:38)
      – Jesus had a spirit (Mark 2:8, Luke 23:46)

      One has to set aside preconcieved teachings when reading these verses.

      Plain scriptures teach that God was not born like Jesus Christ was because God is eternal ( Deut 33:27, 1 Tim 1:17, Heb 9:14).

      Scripture also teaches that the man Jesus Christ the man did NOT exist until he was concieved in the womb of Mary when God’s holy spirit created the male seed that united with Mary’s egg to create a human embryo.

      The man Jesus Christ learned obedience by the things he suffered Hebrews 5:8; Whereas God, our Father, does not have to learn things because He knows everthing or is omniscient (Isa 40:28, Psalm 147:5, Mat 10:30)

      There are some verses that are hard to understand and one should not force a preconcieved doctrine, idea, or notion into them when there are so many scriptures that teach us clearly that Jesus Christ was a man and that God was in him doing the miracle works and reconciling the world to Himself (John 14:10 and 2 Cor 5:19.

      I submit to Jesus Christ my Savior who willingly gave up his human life. Jesus Christ who is my bridgroom and especially to our Father, Yahweh, the ALMIGHTY God.

      I will not deny the name of Jesus or the name of Yahweh.

      Isaiah 66:5 “Hear the word of the LORD (Yahweh), You who tremble at His word: “Your brethren who hated you, Who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘Let the LORD (Yahweh) be glorified, That we may see your joy.’ But they shall be ashamed.”

      I tremble at His word, it is life to me and to you, I do not want to hurt or deny Him or His Son Jesus Christ.

      Much love to you Mark,

      Your Brother,
      Andybob

  9. Andybob,
    I have been reading and re-reading this post trying to get a handle on your belief. You have listed, as well as others, a multitude of Scripture. I feel the main point is the Deity of Christ.
    I have placed my salvation on the assurance of eternal life I will receive from my faith on Jesus Christ that died for me…where my sins are covered by His blood.
    As a Christian, I believe Jesus to be all man and all God at the same time. I would not want to rely my salvation on a man who “lived a good life.” No “man” can be perfect.
    My Jesus was perfect because of his deity. Yes, He is the mediator between us and God. A human being cannot be a mediator between us and God. Only perfection can reach between imperfection and perfection.
    Another point you mentioned Christ began his life at birth on earth. I disagree with you. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus has always been just as God has always been.
    I think all of the posts are very thought provoking. But actually, the Christian belief comes down to believing a child-like faith. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
    I do pray that you will look further into God’s love for you through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
    Ruth

  10. Dear Andybob

    May I ask you a direct question?

    Do you believe that you have received the Holy Spirit in your heart ?

    In Christ by my Father’s mercy and in love

    Mark H NZ

    • Thanks for the question Mark,

      The direct answer is, “Yes”.

      Not like brother Bob has answered though.

      I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit a few months after I was saved with the evidence of speaking in other tongues like the Book of Acts describes.

      How do I know this?

      Just as the scriptures describe this very work of God’s Holy Spirit in Acts 2, Acts 10, and Acts 19.

      In Acts 2 we see the 120 plus brothers and sisters get filled with God’s holy spirit on the day of Pentecost and spoke in tongues after waiting on God to be “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4) as Jesus Christ instructed them to. He told them to wait for the “Promise of the Father” that God would send a “comforter” or “Helper”.

      We know the “Promise of the Father” also referred to as the “Comforter” is the holy spirit of God because Jesus said it was in John 14:26, “But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name”.

      Next Scripture that describes the baptism in the Holy Spirit is:
      Acts 10:44-48

      The Gentiles received the Holy Ghost (Spirit) of God when Peter preached to them. How did they those of the “circumcision” know them gentiles received it? Because Acts 10:46 says, “they heard them speak with other tongues”.

      Next
      Acts 19:1-7 Our brother Paul preached the Gospel of Jesus to some of John the Baptist’s disciples when he found them at the city of Ephesus.

      After being baptized in water Paul laid his hands on them and they were filled/baptized in the Holy Spirit of God. How did Paul know this? Because they spoke in other tongues.

      Mark,

      I was praying in my bedroom and asking to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit as described in Luke 11:13. As I prayed I felt His spirit and stated speaking a language I did not know.

      Like Peter, who had denied the Lord Jesus Christ before being filled with the Holy Spirit of God, but afterward became as bold and fearless on the Day of Pentecost, I, too, became more bold in sharing my faith about salvation in Jesus Christ.

      So, Yes, I have been baptized in the Holy Spirit of God.

      Remember Mark, God is a Spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and truth as John 4:24 tells us,

      “God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”

      God Bless you dear brother!

      Agape,
      Andybob

      • Tongues are an evidence yet not the sole evidence. The Holy Spirit is not constrained.
        1Cr 13

      • Andybob:

        Your love of Christ is evident. Yet, I must ask,
        in your belief structures that: “Jesus had a beginning…” “Jesus is just a man.” And your quote of Matthew 1:16 as if to attest that His existence only began when he was born in the womb of Mary, how do you reconcile these beliefs with scriptures that attest to His Eternality and Pre-existence?:

        “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” {Micah 5:2}.

        “No man has seen the Abba at any time: the only brought forth Son, who was in the bosom of the Abba, He has declared Him.” {Jn. 6:46}

        “I am the living bread which came down from heaven….” {Jn. 6:51}.

        Your Brother in Christ.

        Kenneth

  11. Yes, the evidence of the Spirit is undeniable truth. The mystery of God is the crux of the creation saga that is the Bible. On this question pivots the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or pretenders, godlessness; all the dead. Jhn 6:33-58

  12. The evidence of the Holy Spirit is love, not necessarily speaking in tongues. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not human. Analysis cannot avail anything apart from evidences of the occurrence. Human inclination is alien to this wonder and so fails corporate Pentecostalism. No amount of trying will earn the Spirit of God.
    Mat 5:8, 22:37, Mar 16:14, Act 7:51, 8:37, 16:14, Rom 10:6-9