One day during the glorious 90’s while minding my own business at our home in Seattle, I perceived a knock upon my door. Excited at the possibility of company, I hustled on over to see who it was. What happened next compelled me to write the following. Ready? Let’s go back in time, you and I. This is important, please carefully force your way through it.
1994, give or take:
I confess, I totally blew it. Yesterday a pair of Jehovah's Witnesses knocked on our door to pass out their tracts. I was totally preoccupied with other matters and my mind was not ready to give an answer to the reason of the hope that lies within me. I did give them an answer to who Jesus is but did not pursue a conversation about their beliefs, which now I deeply regret.
There are some basic questions I could have easily asked them without getting very deep into theology. I should have started by asking: We both believe that Jesus is the Son of God, right? And they would agree. I should have followed up by asking: But do you know that He is also God the Son? On this they would not agree since they believe Jesus is 'a' god but not Almighty God. Patience please.
May what follows be a blueprint for a reasonable framework of conversation that will lead to further contemplation on the part of anyone seeking truth about who Scripture says that Jesus is.
First, concerning the photo above. What does it represent? In thermodynamics, the triple point of a substance is the temperature and pressure at which the three phases of that substance coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium. Keep this on the back of your mind as you read on. I promise your time will not go unrewarded.
One Mighty God
The Bible speaks of Jesus as the Mighty God and everlasting Father in perhaps one of the most beloved and often quoted prophecies that Isaiah was inspired to record for our benefit. In chapter 9, verse 6 we read:
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, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end…
Yet Isaiah in chapter 10, verse 21 speaks of the Father:
…the remnant of Israel shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. A remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
Note that there are two mighty Gods mentioned, one being the Christ, the other being Jehovah. Nonetheless, scripture is quite clear in numerous passages that there is only one God:
I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. Isaiah 45:5
The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, hath spoken… Psalm 50:1
Jesus answered, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Mark 12:29
The evidence of God’s nature continues in Isaiah 49:26 as it is Jehovah Himself who is referenced as Savior, Redeemer and Mighty God simultaneously:
And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, am thy Savior, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
One True Savior
Scripture confirms that there is only one true God. Isaiah now reminds us that there is but one Savior:
I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no savior. Isaiah 43:11
Naturally this also is highly significant as it relates to Jesus Christ who is also given this title:
Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
And they said to the woman, now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Savior of the world. John 4:42
Christ is either a true Savior or a false Savior since Jehovah Himself states that there are no other Saviors. Scripture confirms that there is only true Savior.
One First and one Last
Isaiah continues as Jehovah further assures us that He alone in the first and the last:
Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6
Yet centuries later Christ appears before John in his vision as the first and last:
Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelation 1:17.18
Logically as well as theologically there can only be one first and one last.
Every knee shall bow
Isaiah also writes that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Jehovah is Lord:
By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Isaiah 45:23
Yet John’s Revelation also states:
Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Revelation 2:9-11
Scripture confirms that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Christ is Lord. 1 Corinthians 8:6 proves to be the ultimate apologetic concerning this Mighty God as is plainly states:
Yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.
This essay has focused on who the bible teaches Jesus is. So what about the Holy Spirit? There are many passages we could turn to, however these two are the clearest and leave no doubt as to the triune nature of God:
“And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him [Jesus] in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My [the Father’s] beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” Luke 3:22
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit . . .” Matthew 28:19
Note that “name” is purposefully singular in the Greek text. You can check it for yourself.
As mentioned at the outset of this essay, creation itself shouts of threes in abundance:
-The triple point of water. (Science)
-Length, width, and height. (Substance)
-Past, present, and future. (Time)
For those ultra sophisticated folk, did you also know that there are three main types of stable particles: the proton, the neutron, and the electron. These are the three building blocks of atoms. All solid matter consists of atoms built entirely from these three particles. Clearly God creates with order and intention. Perhaps someday soon we need to delve deeply into the fallacy of evolution. But I digress.
The Bible is clear: One God (YHWH) exists as three coequal, co-eternal, co-substantial divine persons. I believe this on faith just as I believe God created ALL things, seen and unseen, by His Word. This does not mean that I can adequately explain it. Since nobody has the mind of God, it remains impossible to do so. But I do believe we can comprehend it from a limited, finite perspective. If you as a Christian struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity or interact with members of non-Christian religions/ cults who (will) deny the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, then please arm yourself with these truths from Scripture in preparation for giving every person a reason for the eternal hope that you can have. I hope this essay has helped. These passages have really helped me understand the reality of who Jesus is.
I close with the historical words of Matthew 2:22, 23 quoting Isaiah 7:14 and as they unite to bring forth the promise of a Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace:
Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us. Matthew 2:22, 23
And God will be with us unto the very end of the age! Amen.
Jim
Source for further research: http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2009/08/deity-of-chirst-by-dr-walter-martin.html