GOD THE SON
1. We were created for relationship with God — relationship based on knowledge. There is
a great attack today on who God is, especially Jesus. Jer 9:23,24; Matt 24:4,5; 23,24
2. As we study the Bible, we see that there is only one God, but that there are three divine persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — all of whom are and do what only God is and can do. This three in one is known as the doctrine of the Trinity.
a. There is only one God, but there are three divine persons, one what, three whos.
b. “Within the One Being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (James R. White)
3. We are looking at what the Bible teaches about Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity.
a. It is vital that we know Jesus of the Bible. John 14:6; 3:18;36; I John 2:23
b. Christianity is unique. It is based on the Person of Jesus — who He is, what He is, and what He has done. John 16:27-29; 17:8
c. His work and His words have value only because of who He is.
4. Misunderstandings of the person of Jesus fall into two general categories — those who say Jesus is the Father and those who say Jesus is not God, He is a created being.
a. Jesus is not the Father. Over fifty times in the NT, the Father and the Son are seen as distinct within the same verse (II Cor 1:3; Phil 2:11; I John 2:22). They speak to each other and speak about each other (John 17:1; Matt 3:16,17;
John 16:27,28; 14:31).
b. Jesus is not a created being. The Bible is very clear about that. Jesus was, is, and always will be God — eternal (without beginning or end) and infinite (not limited by time or space). John 1:1-3
1. Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem. Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son, left heaven and eternity and entered human existence at Bethlehem. Micah 5:2
2. Some think that because Jesus is called the Son of God He is less than the Father, less than God. That is not so.
a. In Bible times, in Semitic thought, the phrase “Son of” most often meant “one who possesses his father’s qualities” or “of the order of”.
b. When Jesus said He was the Son of God, He was saying He was God. That is exactly how the Jews to whom He spoke understood it. John 5:18; 10:30-33
c. Jesus is not the Son of God because He was born in Bethlehem or because He is somehow less than God or because God created Him. He is the Son because He is God.
3. When the Son entered earth and time, He took on flesh — a full human nature (spirit, soul, and body). John 1:14
a. He did not stop being God, nor did He turn into a man. He was not God temporarily living in a human body.
b. He was and still is at the same time fully God and fully man. Matt 1:23; I Tim 3:16
4. When the Second Person of the Trinity took on flesh, He:
a. Veiled His preincarnate glory so He could live with men. John 17:5; Matt 17:1-8
b. Voluntarily limited Himself and did not use His divine attributes to live on earth.
c. Humbled Himself, lowered Himself, by taking the form of a man. Heb 2:9
5. The Second Person of the Godhead, God the Son, took on flesh so He could die for our sins. Matt 20:27,28; Heb 2:9,14,15
a. Jesus had to be God so that His sacrifice for sins would have the value to fully pay for our sins, once for all.
b. God cannot die, so, Jesus had to be man so that He could die for our sins.
6. Jesus was and is fully God and fully man — one person with two natures, human and divine. That is why He could be hungry, tired, tempted to sin, and still be I AM.
Matt 4:1,2; 8:24; John 4:6; 8:58; 3:13
7. When you read a verse about Jesus in the NT, you must determine if the verse is referring to His human nature or His divine nature.
a. When the Second Person of the Trinity voluntarily left heaven, He humbled Himself and took a role of submission to the Father. John 14:28
b. Difference in function does not mean inferiority in nature. I Cor 11:3
8. In this lesson, we want to look at more evidence from the Bible that Jesus is God.
a. When Jesus was on earth, He used the Bible (OT) to prove He was who He said He was. Luke 24:25-27; 44-48
b. The disciples used the Bible (OT) to verify that Jesus is who He said He was.
II Pet 1:16-21
1. Since time began, since the creation of the earth and man, God has been revealing Himself to us — His plan, His purpose, His person.
a. Creation itself declares God and His wonders. Rom 1:20; Ps 19:1
b. But, the fullest, most complete revelation of God — His plan, His purpose, His person — is Jesus Christ. II Tim 1:9,10; John 14:9
2. Heb 1:1-3–Jesus is the Word of God, the visible manifestation of the Invisible God.
a. Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all things = He is God.
b. Brightness = shining forth = not a reflection, but a shining forth of the very character, attributes, and essence of God in Christ.
c. Express image = exact representation. In common usage, this word meant the actual mark impression made by an engraving tool or stamp.
d. Jesus is the exact representation of God’s real being.
3. Col 1:15-17–These verses give us a classic statement on who Jesus is.
a. v15–Image = EIKON = lit: the very substance or essential embodiment of something or someone. Jesus is the very substance or essence of God.
b. Firstborn = does not mean created being. That would be a complete contradiction of the statement just made and the verses which follow.
1. The passage is emphasizing the preeminence (superiority) of Christ.
2. He is before all creation and He produced all creation. Firstborn means preeminent. (example: the First Lady)
c. v16,17–He created all things and sustains all. He is before all things, He is not dependent on anything or anyone for His existence. He is the Uncreated First Cause. Rev 3:14–Beginning = ARCHE = origin or the actual cause of creation.
4. Col 2:9–”The very deity of God, that which makes God God, in all its completeness, has its permanent home in our Lord.” (Benjamin B. Warfield)
a. Dwells = lives = present tense verb indicating continuous action. The thought is that in Christ the fullness of deity permanently resides.
b. Jesus was, is, no less God when, because, He took on a human nature.
1. He has the characteristics of God, displays the attributes of God.
a. Omnipotence (all powerful) — Heb 1:3; I Cor 15:27; Matt 28:18
b. Omniscience (all knowing) — John 1:48; 2:24,25; Matt 11:27
c. Omnipresence (present everywhere at once) — Matt 18:20; 28:20; John 3:13
d. Eternal (no beginning, no end) — John 1:1; John 17:5; Col 1:17
e. Immutable (unchanging) — Heb 13:8
2. He does things that only God can do, holds offices that belong only to God.
a. Creator and Sustainer of all — John 1:3,10; Col 1:16,17; Heb 1:3,10
b. Forgiver of sins — Mark 2:5,7; Isa 43:25; Job 14:4
c. Judge — John 5:22; Acts 17:31; II Tim 4:1
d. Gives eternal life — John 10:28; 17:2
3. He allowed people to worship Him. Matt 2:11; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:17; Rev 5:13
a. Jesus knew that only God is to be worshipped (Matt 4:10). Creature worship is an abomination. Rom 1:25; Col 2:18
b. In the Bible, others whom people tried to worship refused it. Acts 10:25,26; 14:14,15; Rev 19:10; 22:9
c. Matt 4:10; Heb 1:6–The same worship due the Father is due to the Son. Worship = PROSKUNEO.
4. John 20:28–When John called Jesus God (THEOS), Jesus did not correct Him, but rather, blessed him. Note, an important point about how to read the Bible.
a. John 20:17–Some say this proves Jesus is not God. But, just eleven verses down (v28), Jesus allows a man to call Him God.
b. v17–The man Jesus was not an atheist. His God was God.
1. His involvement in creation. John 1:1-3; Gen 1:1,26
2. His preincarnate appearances. Gen 18; 22; Ex 23:20-23; Josh 5:13-15; Judges 13; etc.
3. Jesus could also have shown them numerous statements about Jehovah in the OT which were and are made of Christ once He took on flesh.
a. Isa 40:3; Matt 3:3–John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord (Jehovah — OT name for Lord used over 5300 times) and God (Elohim — common OT name for God used over 2,500 times).
b. Ex 31:13,17–Jehovah is the Author and Lord of the Sabbath day. In Matt 12:8 Jesus said He is the Lord of the Sabbath. v14–The Jews wanted to kill Him for it.
c. Isa 45:21,22–Jehovah is the only Savior. Jesus (Jehovah saves) is called Savior. Matt 1:21,23; Titus 2:13
d. Isa 44:6; 41:4; 48:12–Jehovah is called the First and the Last. Rev 1:8,17; 22:13
e. Isa 45:23–Every knee shall bow to Jehovah and every tongue swear. Phil 2:9-11
f. Joel 2:32–Whosoever shall call upon the name of Jehovah shall be delivered. Rom 10:13
g. Zech 12:10–Jehovah says they shall look on me whom they have pierced. Jesus was the one whom they pierced. Rev 1:7
4. John 20:30,31–But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting in and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name [that is, through what He is]. (Amp)
1. Isa 7:14 (Matt 1:23)–The Son shall be called God with us, the God-man.
2. Isa 9:6–God’s Son (the Second Person of the Trinity) is given to us. His Name is:
a. Wonderful — Denotes something miraculous = fully God, fully man. I Tim 3:16
b. Counselor — He has come to speak, to help, to guide, to advise.
c. The Mighty God — ELOHIM = the Strong One; sovereign governor of the universe who rules all. (THEOS = NT equivalent of ELOHIM)
d. Everlasting Father = Father of Eternity; Creator of time, space, matter.
e. Prince of Peace = He will bring peace to the world at His Second Coming. But, through the Cross, He has made peace between God and man. Rom 5:1,2;
II Cor 5:19; I Tim 2:5; Col 1:20
3. The Son’s human name is Jesus, also called the Christ. Matt 1:21,16 Jesus means Jehovah saves. Christ means anointed (anointed = consecrated, set apart).
4. The Father anointed the Son to be a Prophet, a Priest, and a King.
a. As the Prophet, the Son, Jesus, has revealed the Father to us. John 1:1,14,18
b. As the Priest, the Son, Jesus, has removed our sins through the sacrifice of Himself, and He now makes intercession for us in heaven. Heb 7:25; 4:14-16
c. As the King, the Son, Jesus, will one day rule and reign on the earth on the throne of David out of Jerusalem (Rev 19:16; 11:15). And, now, He rules and reigns in the lives of those who have taken Him as their Lord. Rom 10:9,10
5. We have the privilege of knowing and believing all these things about the Son, and through believing, we have life.
1. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, who have since forever existed in perfect love and intimate fellowship with each other decided to have a family of sons and daughters who would be invited into this eternal realm of fellowship with God.
2. This eternal plan is being carried out in time. God created time, created us.
a. The Second Person of the Trinity, the Son, left heaven and eternity to enter time.
b. He came to die for us, for our sins, to open the way for us to join Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit in eternity.
3. When the Son’s work on earth was completed, He left time and went back to eternity to prepare a place for us. John 14:1-3; II Cor 5:8
4. II Cor 4:17,18–Why take the time to study these things? To help us see and know our true identity and destiny, and to help us lighten the load as we pass through time on the way to eternity.