The Nature of Jesus
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). The word God in this verse is the plural form (Elohim) implying more than one being, also indicated in plural pronouns (v. 26). The Bible teaches that the Father, the Word (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit have the same nature—Deity. To affirm that they are Divine beings is to affirm their eternity. Some believe that the Father only is Deity, and Jesus was the first created being. Islam teaches that He was just a prophet. Others believe that only Jesus is Divine, and that He manifested himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches there are three Divine beings but one Godhead.
In Exodus 3:14, God told Moses to tell Israel “I AM has sent me to you.” God was telling Moses that He was the eternally existing one. Jesus made the same statement about Himself. “Before Abraham was, I Am” (Jn. 8:58). In claiming to be “I AM,” He was affirming that He was God (Jn. 1:1). Other passages clearly show that Christ is Deity. Isaiah said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (40:3). John the Baptist came to “Prepare the way of the Lord” (Mt. 3:3). Isaiah said “The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth” (40:28). John said, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (Jn. 1:3). Paul said, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth” (Col. 1:16). Isaiah said that a virgin would have a Son “and shall call His name Immanuel” (7:14). Matthew said Immanuel means “God with us” (Mt. 1:23). Jesus is God!
Those who deny the Deity of Christ argue that the word begotten (Jn. 3:16), shows that He had a beginning. The expression “this day I have begotten You” (Ps. 2:7) is quoted in Acts 13:33-35 and applied to the resurrection of Jesus, not his physical birth birth. W.E. Vine commented, “we can only rightly understand the term the only begotten when used of the Son, in the sense of unoriginated relationship...He, a Person, possesses every attribute of pure Godhood. This necessitates eternity, absolute being; in this respect He is not ‘after’ the Father.”
Does the expression Son of God prove that Jesus had a beginning? The Bible uses this expression to mean sameness, not necessarily origin. In Mark 3:17, “sons of thunder” shows nature, not origin. Luke spoke of “children of this world” (20:34), referring to nature, not origin. The Jews understood that when Jesus claimed to be “the Son of God,” He “was making Himself equal with God” (Jn. 5:18).
Does the expression “firstborn over all creation” (Col. 1:15), prove that Jesus had a beginning? The word firstborn is used of position, as the context continues “For by Him all things were created
...that in all things He may have the preeminence” (vs. 16,17). Israel was called God’s “firstborn” because of position, not origin (Ex. 4:22). God made David His “firstborn” (Ps. 89:20,27). In no sense was David the first creature of God, but he occupied a place of preeminence.
When doubting Thomas saw the evidence of the resurrected Lord, he said “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28). Jesus did not rebuke him for such a conclusion, but said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (v. 29).
In Exodus 3:14, God told Moses to tell Israel “I AM has sent me to you.” God was telling Moses that He was the eternally existing one. Jesus made the same statement about Himself. “Before Abraham was, I Am” (Jn. 8:58). In claiming to be “I AM,” He was affirming that He was God (Jn. 1:1). Other passages clearly show that Christ is Deity. Isaiah said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (40:3). John the Baptist came to “Prepare the way of the Lord” (Mt. 3:3). Isaiah said “The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth” (40:28). John said, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (Jn. 1:3). Paul said, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth” (Col. 1:16). Isaiah said that a virgin would have a Son “and shall call His name Immanuel” (7:14). Matthew said Immanuel means “God with us” (Mt. 1:23). Jesus is God!
Those who deny the Deity of Christ argue that the word begotten (Jn. 3:16), shows that He had a beginning. The expression “this day I have begotten You” (Ps. 2:7) is quoted in Acts 13:33-35 and applied to the resurrection of Jesus, not his physical birth birth. W.E. Vine commented, “we can only rightly understand the term the only begotten when used of the Son, in the sense of unoriginated relationship...He, a Person, possesses every attribute of pure Godhood. This necessitates eternity, absolute being; in this respect He is not ‘after’ the Father.”
Does the expression Son of God prove that Jesus had a beginning? The Bible uses this expression to mean sameness, not necessarily origin. In Mark 3:17, “sons of thunder” shows nature, not origin. Luke spoke of “children of this world” (20:34), referring to nature, not origin. The Jews understood that when Jesus claimed to be “the Son of God,” He “was making Himself equal with God” (Jn. 5:18).
Does the expression “firstborn over all creation” (Col. 1:15), prove that Jesus had a beginning? The word firstborn is used of position, as the context continues “For by Him all things were created
...that in all things He may have the preeminence” (vs. 16,17). Israel was called God’s “firstborn” because of position, not origin (Ex. 4:22). God made David His “firstborn” (Ps. 89:20,27). In no sense was David the first creature of God, but he occupied a place of preeminence.
When doubting Thomas saw the evidence of the resurrected Lord, he said “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28). Jesus did not rebuke him for such a conclusion, but said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (v. 29).