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NASB | John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 1:1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Gen 1:1; Is 9:6] |
Bible Question:
Can anyone show me any passages that show that Jesus is God? A friend of mine believes that Jesus is the Son of God but not God (and the Holy Spirit is the action of God but not God). I've shown him many verses but most can also be interpreted as separate individuals (for example: I baptize you in the name of the Father and in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit could be interpreted as baptizing in the name of the three separate entities.) I've also shown him the classic John 1:1 and similar verses but he interprets it at Jesus and God think alike, have the same mission, similar in nature, etc... Is there something in the Bible that very simply and cleary says that the Three are one? To me there are many verses that state this clearly, but to him, they state something completely different. |
Bible Answer: Your question: Can anyone show me any passages that show that Jesus is God? . . . The following outline is taken from Baker Topical Guide to the Bible, Walter A. Elwell, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1991), ISBN 0-8010-2255-X, pp. 88-106. The Scripture references are far too numerous to include here. Also, if your friend is sincere, I would suggest he read (without the accompanying interpretation of The Watchtower organization) the entire New Testament, particularly the Gospel of John and the other gospels. As to your friend's unbelief, as Jesus said in Luke 16:31: "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead." Likewise, if they do not listen to Jesus Himself (the Gospels) and the Apostles (NT Epistles), they wouldn't believe if they were eyewitnesses to Jesus' resurrection. Here is my answer. The Deity of Christ. ...A. Jesus' Claims to Deity. . . . 1. Claims Relating to God. . . . a) Jesus Claimed Equality with God. Matt 10:40; Matt 11; Matt 28; John 3; 5; 6; 8; 10; 12; 14; 15; 16; 17. . . . b) Jesus Claimed the Rights of God. . . . (1) Jesus Claimed to Forgive Sins. . . . (2) Jesus Claimed to Give Life. . . . (3) Jesus Claimed to Judge. . . . (4) Jesus Claimed to Grant Spiritual Blessings. . . . (5) Jesus Did Miracles. . . . (6) Jesus Cleansed the Temple. . . . (7) Jesus Claimed to Establish God's Kingdom. . . . (8) Jesus Exorcised Demons. . . . (9) Jesus Claimed to Defeat Satan. . . . (10) Jesus Claimed to Be Lord of the Sabbath. . . . (11) Jesus Claimed to Be David's Lord. . . . c) Jesus Claimed the Authority of God. . . . d) Jesus Described Himself as God's Counterpart on Earth. . . . e) Jesus Accepted Prayer, Praise and Worship. . . . f) Jesus Found the Source of Power within Himself. . . . g) Jesus Never Showed Any Consciousness of Sin. . . . 2. Claims Relating to Human Beings. . . . a) Jesus Promised Peace and Rest to Those Who Trust Him. . . . b) Jesus Claimed Power over All Life, Space, and Time. . . . c) Jesus Claimed to Determine People's Eternal Destiny. . . . d) Jesus Claimed Final Authority over People. . . . 3. Claims Relating to Jesus' Mission. . . . a) Jesus Came to Be People's Savior. . . . b) Jesus Came to Make God Known. . . . c) Jesus Came to Sum Up the Entire OT. B. NT Claims to Jesus' Deity. . . . 1. Jesus Is Considered Equal with God. Acts 2; 1 Cor 1; 12; 13; Eph 4; 6; Phil 2:6; Col 1; 2; 3; 1 Thess 3; 2 Thess 2; 1 John 2; 1 John 5; Rev 20; Rev 22. . . . 2. Jesus Possesses God's Attributes. E.g., Omnipotence; Omnipresence; Omniscience; etc. . . . 3. Jesus Does the Work of God. . . . a) God's Work Related to the Created Order. . . . b) God's Work Related to Mankind. . . . c) God's Work Related to the Problem of Sin. . . . d) God's Work Related to Believers. . . . e) God's Work Related to Scripture. . . . 4. Jesus Is Identified with God. . . . 5. Jesus Is Paralleled with God. . . . 6. Jesus Is Assigned OT Designations of God. . . . 7. Jesus Is Superior to Men and Angels. . . . 8. Jesus Receives Prayer, Praise, and Worship. . . . C. The Sinlessness of Jesus. . . . D. The Glory of Christ. . . . E. The Resurrection of Christ. . . . F. The Exaltation of Christ. |