AICNT publications available on Amazon (commissions earned, affiliate partner).
1. Jesus The Man, The Prophet, The Sinless Servant of God
Jesus was conceived by an act of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of a virgin. (Luke 1:31-35) The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40). Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22) Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph. (Luke 3:23) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. (Luke 4:1-2) He was tested by the devil, in numerous ways and withstood every temptation. (Luke 4:13) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. (Luke 4:14-15) The Spirit of the Lord was upon him. (Luke 4:18) God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power and he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38) Jesus of Nazareth, was a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. (Luke 24:19) When facing the ultimate temptation of not following through with his mission unto death, he prayed, “Father if you are willing, remove this cup. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:41-44). He passed this greatest test, committing his life to his God and Father, having faced agony of death, even on a cross. (Luke 23:46)
Moses prophesied, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” (Deut 18:18-19). Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! (Matt 21:9). This Jesus, is a prophet from Nazareth, of Galilee. (Matt 21:11) Jesus declared, “he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” (John 8:26) Jesus said, “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:28-29) Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (John 12:44-45) He also said, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:46) “The word that I have spoken will judge on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.” (John 12:49) “What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” (John 12:50)
Jesus could do nothing on his own accord. (John 5:19) His judgment was just because he sought not his own will, but of him who sent him. (John 5:30). Jesus said, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” (John 7:16) He said, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” (John 7:17) “The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true.” (John 7:18) Jesus said, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’” (John 8:54) He always did the things that are pleasing to the Father and he kept the Father’s commandments and abided in his love. (John 8:29, 15:10) He said, “If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28) Jesus recognized that the authority he has was given to him by the Father. (John 17:2) He declared to the Father, “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)
God raised up his servant and sent him to turn the people away from their wickedness. (Acts 3:26) Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him. (Acts 2:22) God said through the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him.” (Matt 12:18) Rather than claiming to be God, Jesus identified himself as the Son of God. (John 10:36) And, as an obedient Son, he did the works of the Father and kept the Father’s commandments. (John 15:10) Jesus gave himself according to the will of our God and Father. (Gal 1:3) He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) By the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (Rom 5:19) He bore our transgressions and therefore he is a mediator of a new covenant. (Heb 9:15) There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (1Tim 2:5-6)
Adam was a type of him who was to come. (Rom 5:14) Being born in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross. (Phil 2:7-8) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11) The founder of our salvation was made perfect in suffering. (Heb 2:10) Since the children participate fully in blood and flesh, in a similar way he also himself shared the same so that through death he could make ineffective the one who holds the power of death, and free all those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. (Heb 2:14-15) He had to be made like his brothers in every respect in order to become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, so that he could wipe away the sins of the people. (Heb 2:17) We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb 4:15) He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. (1Pet 2:22) When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1Pet 2:23). He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. (1Pet 2:24) Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. (Heb 5:8-9) The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1Cor 15:46) Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1Cor 15:21) As by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. (1Cor 15:19)
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 (ESV) | 15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the LORD said to me, They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. | |
|
| |
Isaiah 52:13-15 (ESV) | 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— 15 so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. | |
|
| |
Isaiah 53:2-5 (ESV) | 2For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. |
|
|
|
|
Isaiah 53:7 (ESV) | He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; |
|
|
| |
Isaiah 53:11 (ESV) | Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. | |
|
| |
Matthew 12:15-18 (ESV) | 15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. | |
|
| |
Matthew 21:9-11 (ESV) | 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” | |
|
| |
Luke 1:31-35 (ESV) | 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. | |
|
| |
Luke 2:40 (ESV) | And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. | |
|
| |
Luke 3:21-23 (ESV) | 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph | |
|
| |
Luke 4:1-2 (ESV) | 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. | |
|
| |
Luke 4:12-13 (ESV) | 12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. | |
|
| |
Luke 4:16-21 (ESV) | 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” | |
|
| |
Luke 22:39-44 (ESV) | 39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. | |
|
| |
Luke 23:46 (ESV) | 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. | |
|
| |
Luke 24:19-20 (ESV) | 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. | |
|
| |
Acts 2:22-24 (ESV) | 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. | |
|
| |
Acts 3:13 (ESV) | The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him | |
|
| |
Acts 3:14-15 (ESV) | 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. | |
|
| |
Acts 3:22-26 (ESV) | 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” | |
|
| |
Acts 4:24-30 (ESV) | 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” | |
|
| |
Acts 7:51-53 (ESV) | 51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” | |
|
| |
Acts 10:37-38 (ESV) | 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. | |
|
| |
John 1:29 (ESV) | 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! | |
|
| |
John 5:19 (ESV) | So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. | |
|
| |
John 5:30 (ESV) | 30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. | |
|
| |
John 5:36 (ESV) | But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. | |
|
| |
John 6:57 (ESV) | As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. | |
|
| |
John 7:16-18 (ESV) | 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. | |
|
| |
John 7:28 (ESV) | 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. | |
|
| |
John 8:28-29 (ESV) | So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” | |
|
| |
John 8:42 (ESV) | Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. | |
|
| |
John 8:54 (ESV) | Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ | |
|
| |
John 10:34-37 (ESV) | Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; | |
|
| |
John 12:44-50 (ESV) | 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” | |
|
| |
John 14:10-11 (ESV) | Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. | |
|
| |
John 14:28 (ESV) | You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. | |
|
| |
John 15:1 (ESV) | “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. | |
|
| |
John 15:10 (ESV) | If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. | |
|
| |
John 17:1-4 (ESV) | When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. | |
|
| |
John 17:25-26 (ESV) | O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” | |
|
| |
Romans 5:12-19 (ESV) | 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. | |
|
| |
1 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) | But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. | |
|
| |
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV) | 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, | |
|
| |
1 Corinthians 15:20-21 (ESV) | 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. | |
|
| |
1 Corinthians 15:42-49 (ESV) | 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. | |
|
| |
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV) | 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. | |
|
| |
2 Corinthians 13:3-4 (ESV) | 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. | |
|
| |
Galatians 1:3-5 (ESV) | 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. | |
|
| |
Galatians 2:20-21 (ESV) | 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. | |
|
| |
Philippians 2:7-11 (ESV) | 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | |
|
| |
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV) | For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. | |
|
| |
Hebrews 2:14-18 (REV) | 14 Now since the children participate fully in blood and flesh, in a similar way he also himself shared the same so that through death he could make ineffective the one who holds the power of death, that is, the Devil,15 and free all those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. 16 Indeed, it hardly needs to be said that he did not come to help angels, but to give help to the seed of Abraham.17 This being the case, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect in order to become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, so that he could wipe away the sins of the people. 18 For since he himself was tempted in that which he suffered, he is able to help those who are tempted. | |
|
| |
Hebrews 4:14-15 (ESV) | 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. | |
|
| |
Hebrews 5:8-9 (ESV) | 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, | |
|
| |
Hebrews 9:15, 24 (ESV) | 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant… 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. | |
|
| |
Hebrews 10:19-21 (ESV) | 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, | |
|
| |
Hebrews 12:24 (ESV) | 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. | |
|
| |
1 Peter 2:21-24 (ESV) | 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. | |
|
| |
Revelation 1:17-18 (ESV) | 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. | |
2. Jesus The Christ, The Messiah, The Son of Man, The Son of God
Jesus is principally identified as the Christ in the New Testament. The word Christ is so common in the apostolic writings that it is taken for granted. The word “Christ” (Christos) in the Greek means “Anointed One” or “Chosen One”. Christ is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew concept of Messiah. (John 1:41) In ancient Israel, a person given a position of authority such as kings or priests, were anointed with oil. (Lev 8:10-12). This anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God’s choosing. (1 Sam 16:13) Isaiah 61 refers to the coming anointed one. (Isa 61:1-2) Correspondingly, identification of Jesus as “Christ” indicates that he is the “Anointed One,” the “Messiah”. When Jesus asked Peter, “who do you say that I am?” His response according to the synoptic gospels is “Christ” in Mark 8:29, “Christ of God” in Luke 9:20, and “Christ, the Son of living God” in Matthew 16:16. The main point of the preaching in the book of Acts, by the apostles, those chosen by Christ, is that “Christ is Jesus” and that “Jesus is the Christ.” This is reiterated by Acts 2:36, where Peter proclaimed, “God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified,” by Acts 5:42; “And every day, in the temple, and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching, that the Christ is Jesus,” by Acts 9:22; “But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, by proving that Jesus was the Christ,” by Acts 17:3; “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ,” and by Acts 18:15; “Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.”
Accordingly, the Gospel is that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47) Peter preached, “Know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus who was crucified,” (Acts 2:36) and “what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.” (Acts 3:18) He preached “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.” (Acts 3:19-21) He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42) To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43) He has been given authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom the Father has given him. (John 17:2)
Jesus said, when praying to the Father, “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.” (Heb 5:5) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:5-6) The kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. (Rev 11:15) Salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ will come. (Rev 12:10) Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! – they will be priests of God and of Christ. (Rev 20:6)
Identifying Jesus as Son of God is interchangeable with identifying him as the Christ. (Matt 16:16, Matt 26:63, Luke 4:41, Luke 22:66-70, John 20:31). Jesus is called Son of God particularly on account of his conception by the Holy Spirit, his baptism, and the resurrection from the dead. The angel told Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) When Jesus had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22) The devil used Jesus’ special status as the Son of God against him to tempt him. (Luke 4:1-12) Demons came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. (Luke 4:41) When Jesus and his disciples went up to the mountain to pray, a voice came out of the cloud, saying “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35) Jesus was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead. (Rom 1:4) After the Lord Jesus appeared to Saul, before he was called Paul, he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20)
All things have been handed over to Christ by his Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Luke 10:22) The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (John 5:19) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. (John 5:20) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (John 5:21) For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:22-23) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18) The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. (John 3:35) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36) Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:1-3)
In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9) This is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10) We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 John 4:14) Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15) Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:5) Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12) These things are written to those who believe in the name of the Son of God, that may know that they have eternal life. (1 John 5:13) Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. (2 John 1:3)
We bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ (Acts 13:33) Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Heb 1:1-2) He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Heb 1:3-4) For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? (Heb 1:5) And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” (Heb 1:6) God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:32-33) The Lord God will set his Son as his King on Zion, his holy hill. (Psa 2:6) He will make the nations his heritage, and the ends of the earth his possession. (Psa 2:8) Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psa 2:12)
Jesus often referred himself to the Son of Man emphasizing his identity as the Messianic figure of prophecy as a descendant of David. (Luke 1:32) Claiming to be the Son of Man, Jesus spoke of the need to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Luke 9:22) He had to first be rejected in his generation. (Luke 17:25) Everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets was to be accomplished. (Luke 18:31) The Son of Man has now been exalted at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:56) In an unexpected hour, the Son of Man will return and be revealed in glory. (Luke 17:30) Jesus spoke of himself as the one who will return to the world in judgment in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Matt 16:27) For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And the Son of Man will come in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:26-27) From now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God. (Luke 22:69) Everyone who acknowledges Jesus before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies Jesus before men will be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9) As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, the Son of Man was to be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:14-15) As the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. (John 5:26-27)
2 Samuel 7:12-16 (KJV) | 12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.” |
|
|
Psalms 2:1-12 (ESV) | 1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. |
|
|
Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV) | 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; |
|
|
Matthew 12:15-19 (ESV) | 15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; |
|
|
Matthew 16:13-18 (ESV) | 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. |
|
|
Matthew 16:27 (ESV) | 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. |
|
|
Mark 8:27-29 (ESV) | 27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” |
|
|
Luke 1:31-35 (ESV) | 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. |
|
|
Luke 3:21-22 (ESV) | 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” |
|
|
Luke 4:1-12 (ESV) | 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” 9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11 and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” |
|
|
Luke 4:14-21 (ESV) | 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. Jesus 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” |
|
|
Luke 4:41 (ESV) | And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. |
|
|
Luke 5:24 (ESV) | But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” |
|
|
Luke 6:5 (ESV) | 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” |
|
|
Luke 6:22-23 (ESV) | 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. |
|
|
Luke 7:33-34 (ESV)
| 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ |
|
|
Luke 9:18-26 (ESV)
| 18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. |
|
|
Luke 9:34-35 (ESV) | 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” |
|
|
Luke 10:21-22 (ESV)
| 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” |
|
|
Luke 11:29-32 (ESV) | 29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. |
|
|
Luke 12:8-10 (ESV)
| 8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. |
|
|
Luke 12:40 (ESV)
| You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” |
|
|
Luke 17:22-30 (ESV) | 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. |
|
|
Luke 18:8 (ESV) | I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” |
|
|
Luke 18:31-33 (ESV) | 31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” |
|
|
Luke 19:9-10 (ESV) | And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” |
|
|
Luke 21:25-36 (ESV)
| 25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” |
|
|
Luke 22:19-22 (ESV) | 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” |
|
|
Luke 22:69-70 (ESV) | But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” |
|
|
Luke 23:35-39 (ESV) | 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” |
|
|
Luke 24:6-7 (ESV) | He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” |
|
|
Luke 24:46-49 (ESV) | 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” |
|
|
Luke 22:66-70 (ESV) | 66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” |
|
|
Acts 2:36 (ESV) | Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” |
|
|
Acts 3:18-26 (ESV) | 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” |
|
|
Acts 4:24-28 (ESV) | 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. |
|
|
Acts 5:42 (ESV) | And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. |
|
|
Matthew 16:27 (ESV) | 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. |
|
|
Acts 8:4-5 (ESV) | Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. |
|
|
Acts 9:20-22 (ESV) | And immediately he (Saul) proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. |
|
|
Acts 10:37-43 (ESV) | 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” |
|
|
Acts 13:32-37 (ESV) | 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ 34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. |
|
|
Acts 17:2-3 (ESV) | 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” |
|
|
Acts 17:30-31 (ESV) | 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” |
|
|
Acts 18:5 (ESV) | When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. |
|
|
Acts 18:28 (ESV) | for he (Paul) powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. |
|
|
John 1: 14 (ESV) | 1 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. |
|
|
John 1:32-34 (ESV) | 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” |
|
|
John 1:41-42 (ESV) | 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). |
|
|
John 1:49-51 (ESV) | 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” |
|
|
John 3:13-18 (ESV) | 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. |
|
|
John 3:34-36 (ESV) | 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. |
|
|
John 5:17-27 (ESV) | 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. |
|
|
John 5:26-27 (ESV) | For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. |
|
|
John 6:27 (ESV) | Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” |
|
|
John 6:40 (ESV) | 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” |
|
|
John 6:53-57 (ESV) | 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. |
|
|
John 8:28-29 (ESV) | So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” |
|
|
John 10:30-37 (ESV) | The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; |
|
|
John 11:21-27 (ESV) | Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” |
|
|
John 12:23 (ESV) | And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. |
|
|
John 14:12-13 (ESV) | 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. |
|
|
John 17:1-3 (ESV) | 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. |
|
|
John 20:30-31 (ESV) | 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. |
|
|
1 John 1:5-7 (ESV) | 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. |
|
|
1 John 2:22 (ESV) | Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. |
|
|
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV) | 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. |
|
|
1 John 4:13-15 (ESV) | 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. |
|
|
1 John 5:1 (ESV) | Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. |
|
|
1 John 5:5-13 (ESV) | 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. |
|
|
2 John 1:3 (ESV) | 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. |
|
|
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (ESV) | 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. |
|
|
Romans 1:1-4 (ESV) | Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord |
|
|
Romans 1:8-10 (ESV) | 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. |
|
|
Romans 5:10-11 (ESV) | 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. |
|
|
Romans 8:3-4 (ESV) | 3 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, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 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 8:28-30 (ESV) | 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV) | God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 15:28 (ESV) | 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. |
|
|
2 Corinthians 1:19-20 (ESV) | 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. |
|
|
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) | 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. |
|
|
Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV) | 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. |
|
|
Colossians 1:12-14 (ESV) | 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. |
|
|
2 Peter 1:16-18 (ESV) | For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. |
|
|
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV) | For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. |
|
|
2 Timothy 4:1 (ESV) | 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: |
|
|
Hebrews 1:1-6 (ESV) | 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
|
|
|
Hebrews 1:9 (ESV) | You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” |
|
|
Hebrews 4:14 – 16 (ESV) | 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. |
|
|
Hebrews 5:1-10 (ESV) | 1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. |
|
|
Hebrews 7:28 (ESV) | 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. |
|
|
Revelation 1:12-18 (ESV) | 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades… |
|
|
Revelation 11:15-16 (ESV) | 15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, |
|
|
Revelation 12:10 (ESV) | And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. |
|
|
Revelation 14:14-16 (ESV) | 14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. |
|
|
Revelation 20:6 (ESV) | Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years |
|
|
3. Jesus The Firstborn of All Creation, The Blessed One, The Anointed Lord
The Lord God will give to Jesus the throne of his father David, and he will reign forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33) This Jesus God raised up and exalted to his right hand. (Acts 2:32-33) God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus who was crucified. (Acts 2:36) To be God’s firstborn is to be made the highest of the kings of the earth. (Ps 89:27) It is this one to come after David, of whom God will establish the throne of his kingdom forever, as God said, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son” and “my steadfast love will not depart from him” (2Sam 7:13-15) The anointed of the LORD, he is the one whom God will set as his king on Zion according to the decree of the LORD, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. (Ps 2:6-7) To the Son, God will make the nations his heritage, and the ends of the earth his possession. (Ps 2:8) He is the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon his lips; therefore, God has blessed him forever. (Ps 45:1-2). He has loved righteousness and hated wickedness – Therefore God, his God, has anointed him with the oil of gladness beyond his companions. (Ps 45:7, Heb 1:9) God says to the one who will be made Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” (Ps 110:1) God sends forth from Zion the mighty scepter of the anointed one, Rule in the midst of your enemies! (Ps 110:2)
Jesus, who is at the right hand of God, is waiting for the time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. (Heb 10:12-13) The kings of the earth will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is ‘Lord of lords’ and ‘King of kings’, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. (Rev 17:14) From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. (Rev 19:15) On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev 19:16) Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth (Psa 2:10). Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psa 2:12) God has sworn and will not change his mind concerning his anointed one, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps 110:4)
What is man that God is mindful of him, and the son of man that he cares for him? (Ps 8:4) Yet God made him a little lower than the angels (Elohim) and crowned him with glory and honor. (Ps 8:5) God has given him dominion over the works of his hands; he has put all things under his feet. (Ps 8:6) For It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. (Heb 2:5) And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (Isa 11:2) And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. (Isa 11:3-4) Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. (Isa 11:5)
We know that all things work together for good, for those who are called according to the purpose of God. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Rom 8:28-29) Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. He freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father. (Rev 1:5-6) It was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Heb 2:10) Upon bringing the firstborn into the world, God says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” (Heb 1:6) Jesus has become much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Heb 1:4)
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Col 1:15) He is the beginning – the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (Col 1:18) The Son of Man says, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Rev 1:17-18) He is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. (Rev 3:14) Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1Cor 15:45) Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1Cor 15:49) The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son. (John 5:22) This is the fulfillment of what Moses and the Prophets said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the Jews and to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:22-23) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (1 Cor 15:22-23)
From now on the Son of Man is seated at the right hand of the power of God. (Luke 22:69) All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. (Matt 28:18) The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. (John 3:35) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36) For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. (John 5:22-23) For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. (John 5:26) And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. (John 5:27) When Jesus was ready to lay down his life, he prayed, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:1-3)
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. (Eph 1:17) By his great might, God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Eph 1:20-21) He put all things under his feet. (Eph 1:22) God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11) Although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1Cor 8:5-6) If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom 10:9)
2 Sam 7:12-17 (ESV) | 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. |
|
|
Psalms 2:1-9 (ESV) | 1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” |
|
|
Psalms 45:1-7 (ESV) | 1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty! 4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! 5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you. 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; |
|
|
Psalms 89:27 (ESV) | “I will make him the firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.” |
|
|
Psalms 110:1-6 (ESV) | 1 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. |
|
|
Isaiah 11:1-5 (ESV) | 1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. |
|
|
Zechariah 9:9-10 (ESV) | 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. |
|
|
Mark 14:61-62 (ESV)
| 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” |
|
|
Matthew 28:18 (ESV) | 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. |
|
|
Luke 1:30-33 (ESV) | 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” |
|
|
Luke 10:21-22 (ESV) | 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” |
|
|
Luke 19:33-38 (ESV) | 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” |
|
|
Luke 21:25-28 (ESV) | 25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” |
|
|
Luke 22:69-70 (ESV) | 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” |
|
|
Acts 2:32-36 (ESV) | 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” |
|
|
Acts 5:30-31 (ESV) | 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. |
|
|
Acts 7:55-56 (ESV) | 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” |
|
|
Acts 10:38-43 (ESV) | 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” |
|
|
John 3:35-36 (ESV) | 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. |
|
|
John 5:21-29 (ESV) | 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. |
|
|
John 11:25-27 (ESV) | 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” |
|
|
John 17:1-3 (ESV) | 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. |
|
|
Psalms 16:8-11 (ESV) | 8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore |
|
|
Acts 2:22-36 (ESV) | 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” |
|
|
Acts 26:22-23 (ESV) | To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” |
|
|
Romans 1:3-4 (ESV) | 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, |
|
|
Romans 8:28-29 (ESV) | 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. |
|
|
Romans 8:34 (ESV) | 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. |
|
|
Romans 10:9 (ESV) | 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. |
|
|
Romans 14:9 (ESV) | 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 (ESV) | 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 (ESV) | 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (ESV) | But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 15:42-49 (ESV) | 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. |
|
|
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) | 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. |
|
|
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 (ESV) | 5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed… |
|
|
Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV) | 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
|
|
Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) | 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. |
|
|
Colossians 2:6-15 (ESV) | 6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. |
|
|
Ephesians 1:17-23 (ESV) | 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. |
|
|
Hebrews 1:1-14 (ESV) | 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? [Ps 2:7] Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? [2 Sam 7:14] 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world [Ps 89:27], he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” [Deut. 32:43, Ps 97:7] 7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” [Ps 104:4] 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” [Ps 45:6] 10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” [Ps. 102:25-27] 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? [Ps. 110:1]14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? |
|
|
Hebrews 2:5-10 (ESV) | 5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” |
|
|
Hebrews 2:9-10 (ESV) | 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. |
|
|
Hebrews 8:1 (ESV) | 1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, |
|
|
Hebrews 10:12-13 (ESV) | 2 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. |
|
|
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) | 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. |
|
|
Hebrews 13:20 (ESV) | 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, |
|
|
Revelation 1:5-6 (ESV) | 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. |
|
|
1 Peter 3:21-22 (ESV) | 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. |
|
|
2 Peter 1:2-8 (ESV) | 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Confirm Your Calling and Election 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
|
|
Revelation 1:17-18 (ESV) | 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. |
|
|
Revelation 2:8 (ESV) | 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. |
|
|
Revelation 2:26-27 (ESV) | 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. |
|
|
Revelation 3:14 (ESV) | 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. |
|
|
Revelation 12:10 (ESV)
| 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. |
|
|
Revelation 17:14 (ESV) | 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” |
|
|
Revelation 19:11-16 (ESV) | 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. |
4. Jesus The Mediator Between God and Man, Our High Priest, The Necessary Way
Jesus is the Lamb of God, the one who was given as a sacrifice, to take away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) The LORD God has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isa 53:6) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter. (Isa 53:7) Jesus, this perfect offering, redeems us by his own blood. (Heb 9:12) By his knowledge, the righteous one, God’s servant, has made many to be accounted righteous, and he has born their iniquities. (Isa 53:11) He has poured out his soul to death and has borne the sins of many to make intercession for transgressors. (Isa 53:12) Jesus’s blood facilitates a new and better covenant. (Luke 22:20, Heb 7:22) God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8) Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Rom 5:9) We rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation, to be received by faith. (Rom 5:11) For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Col 1:19-20) By a single offering Christ has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Heb 10:12) He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. (Heb 12:24) Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. (Rev 7:10) Only those written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter God’s kingdom. (Rev 21:27)
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. (John 3:35) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36) As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (John 5:21) For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. (John 5:22-23) Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:23) For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. (John 5:26-27) Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. (John 14:6) He is the true vine and his Father is the vinedresser. (John 15:1) The Father has given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom he has given him. (John 17:2) And this is eternal life, that they know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. (John 17:3) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42) To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43)
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what they did in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Cor 5:10) God raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church. (Eph 1:20-23) God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11) God our Savior desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Tim 2:4) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:5-6)
Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession and was faithful to him who appointed him. (Heb 3:1-2) We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb 4:15) For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. (Heb 5:1) Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever.” (Heb 5:5-6) Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered and being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest. (Heb 5:8-10) We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. (Heb 8:1-2) The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. He is the mediator of a new covenant. (Heb 9:14-15) For Christ has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. (Heb 9:24) Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith who is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2)
|
|
Isaiah 52:13-15 (ESV) | 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, |
|
|
Isaiah 53:4-9 (ESV) | 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? |
|
|
Isaiah 53:10-12 (ESV) | 10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; |
|
|
John 1:29-36 (ESV) | 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” |
|
|
John 3:14-18 (ESV) | 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. |
|
|
John 3:35-36 (ESV) | 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. |
|
|
John 5:21-29 (ESV) | 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. |
|
|
John 14:6 (ESV) | 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. |
|
|
John 15:1 (ESV) | 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. |
|
|
John 17:1-3 (ESV) | When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. |
|
|
Mark 14:22-24 (ESV) | 22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. |
|
|
Matthew 26:26-28 (ESV) | 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. |
|
|
Matthew 28:18 (ESV) | 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. |
|
|
Luke 22:17-20 (ESV) | And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. |
|
|
Acts 4:11-12 (ESV) | 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” |
|
|
Acts 8:30-35 (ESV) | 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: |
|
|
Acts 10:38-43 (ESV) | 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” |
|
|
Acts 10:42-43 (ESV) | 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” |
|
|
Romans 3:22-25 (ESV) | 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. |
|
|
Romans 5:8-11 (ESV) | 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) | 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV) | 6 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 11:23-28 (ESV) | 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. |
|
|
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) | 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. |
|
|
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) | 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. |
|
|
Ephesians 1:7 (ESV) | 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, |
|
|
Ephesians 1:20-22 (ESV) | 20 that he (God) worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church |
|
|
Ephesians 2:13-16 (ESV) | 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. |
|
|
Colossians 1:19-22 (ESV) | For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, |
|
|
Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV) | 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
|
|
1 Timothy 2:3-6 (ESV) | 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. |
|
|
2 Timothy 4:1 (ESV) | 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: |
|
|
Hebrews 2:9-10 (ESV) | 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. |
|
|
Hebrews 3:1-6 (ESV) | 1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. |
|
|
Hebrews 4:14 -16 (ESV) | 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. |
|
|
Hebrews 5:1-10 (ESV) | 1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. |
|
|
Hebrews 7:21 – 28 (ESV) | 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: |
|
|
Hebrews 8:1-6 (ESV) | 1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. |
|
|
Hebrews 9:11-15 (ESV) | 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. |
|
|
Hebrews 9:24 (ESV) | 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. |
|
|
Hebrews 10:10-14 (ESV) | 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. |
|
|
Hebrews 10:19-23 (ESV) | 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. |
|
|
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) | 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. |
|
|
Hebrews 12:24 (ESV) | 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. |
|
|
1 Peter 3:21-22 (ESV) | 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. |
|
|
Hebrews 13:12 (ESV) | 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. |
|
|
1 Peter 1:2-3 (ESV) | according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Born Again to a Living Hope |
|
|
1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV) | knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. |
|
|
1 John 1:5-7 (ESV) | 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. |
|
|
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV) | 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. |
|
|
Revelation 5:8-13 (ESV) | 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” |
|
|
Revelation 7:9-17 (ESV) | 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” |
|
|
Revelation 12:11 (ESV) | And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. |
|
|
Revelation 13:8 (ESV) | and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. |
|
|
Revelation 14:9-10 (ESV) | 9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. |
|
|
Revelation 14:1-5 (ESV) | 1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. |
|
|
Revelation 19:6-9 (ESV) | 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, |
|
|
Revelation 21:9-10, 22-27 (ESV) | 9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God…22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. |
|
|
Revelation 22:1-3 (ESV) | 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. |
5. Jesus The Word of God, Whose Testimony is the Spirit of Prophecy
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev 19:10) The gospel of God, concerning his Son, was promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures. (Rom 1:1-2) The mystery of Jesus Christ was kept secret for long ages, but now has been disclosed and been known to all nations through the prophetic writings according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith. (Rom 16:25-26) We are here to testify to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass – that the Christ must suffer and that by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:22-23) Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be ours searched and inquired when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. (1Pet 1:10-11) They were serving us in the things that have now been announced through those who preached the good news to us by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1Pet 1:12)
Jesus said, regarding Law and the Prophets, “I came not to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matt 5:17) Everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets was accomplished. (Luke 18:31) He said that Scripture must be fulfilled in him. (Luke 22:37) Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus interpreted to his disciples in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27) Jesus said, “everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44) By suffering and being the first to rise from the dead, Christ would proclaim light both to the Jews and to the Gentiles, as the prophets and Moses said would come to pass. (Acts 26:22-23) God spoke about Jesus from by the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago starting with what Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers and it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people. (Acts 3:21-23) And all the prophets who have spoken from Samuel to those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. (Acts 3:24)
Jesus is the embodiment of the Word (Logos) of God. (John 1:14, Rev 19:13) When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal 4:4-5) God’s Logos is what God speaks including his divine reasoning that was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2). Through the divine Word all things were made that were made. (John 1:3) In Christ, the word became flesh, as grace and truth came through Jesus. (John 1:14-17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17) Abraham rejoiced to foresee his day and he was glad. (John 8:56) Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together against God’s holy servant Jesus, whom he anointed, to do whatever his hand and his plan had predestined to take place. (Acts 4:27-28) This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, was crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up. (Acts 2:23)
Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1Cor 1:24) For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thes 5:9) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Rom 8:29) This is according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God. (Rom 16:25-26) It is God who saved us because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2Tim 1:9-10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Eph 1:3-4) In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. (Eph 1:5) In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Eph 1:7-10) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. (Eph 1:11) The plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, is the manifold wisdom of God. (Eph 3:9-10) This eternal purpose he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Eph 3:11) By God’s gracious will, all things have been handed over to the Son from the Father. (Matt 11:26)
Proverbs 3:19-20 (ESV) | 19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. |
|
|
Matthew 5:17 (ESV) | 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. |
|
|
Matthew 11:26-27 (ESV) | 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. |
|
|
Luke 1:30-33 (ESV) | 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” |
|
|
Luke 3:15-17 (ESV) | 15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” |
|
|
Luke 3:21-23 (ESV) | 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, |
|
|
Luke 4:17-21 (ESV) | 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. |
|
|
Luke 9:20-26 (ESV) | 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. |
|
|
Luke 9:29-31 (ESV) | 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. |
|
|
Luke 9:21-22 (ESV) | 21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” |
|
|
Luke 9:34-36 (ESV) | 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. |
|
|
Luke 9:43-45 (ESV) | 43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. |
|
|
Luke 10:21-22 (ESV)
| 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” |
|
|
Luke 10:23-24 (ESV) | 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” |
|
|
Luke 11:49-50 (ESV) | 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation |
|
|
Luke 16:16 (ESV) | 16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. |
|
|
Luke 17:24-25 (ESV) | 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. |
|
|
Luke 18:31-33 (ESV) | 31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” |
|
|
Luke 20:41-44 (ESV) | 41 But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, |
|
|
Luke 22:14-22 (ESV) | 14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” |
|
|
Luke 22:37 (ESV) | 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” |
|
|
Luke 24:6-9 (ESV) | 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. |
|
|
Luke 24:25-27 (ESV) | 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. |
|
|
Luke 24:44-49 (ESV) | 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” |
|
|
Acts 2:22-36 (ESV) | 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” |
|
|
Acts 3:18-26 (ESV) | 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” |
|
|
Acts 4:27-28 (ESV) | 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. |
|
|
Acts 10:42-43 (ESV) | 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” |
|
|
Acts 13:22-25 (ESV) | 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ |
|
|
Acts 13:32-35 (ESV) | 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ 34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, |
|
|
Acts 24:14-15 (ESV) | 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. |
|
|
Acts 26:22-23 (ESV) | 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” |
|
|
John 1:1-3 (Tyndale 1525) | 1 In the beginning was that word, and that word was with god, and god was that word. 2 The same was in the beginning with god. 3 All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that that was made. |
|
|
John 1:1-3 (Tyndale 1534) | 1 In the beginning was the word: and the word was with God, and the word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that that was made.
|
John 1:1-3 (Cloverdale Bible 1535) | 1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and God was the word. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by the same, and without the same was made nothing that that was made. |
|
|
John 1:1-3 (Matthews Bible 1537) | 1 In the beginning was the word: and the word was with God, and the word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that that was made. |
|
|
John 1:1-3 (The Great Bible 1539) | 1 In the beginning was the word: and the word was with God, and the word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that that was made. |
|
|
John 1:1-3 (Geneva Bible 1560*)
| 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that that was made. |
|
|
John 1:1-3 (Bishops Bible 1568) | 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was that Word. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that that was made.
|
John 1:1-3 (Geneva Bible 1599)
| 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and that Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that that was made. |
| * There were 64 versions of the Geneva Bible between 1560 and 1611 |
John 1: 14-17 (ESV) | 14 And the Word became [was made] flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. |
|
|
John 1:29-34 (ESV) | 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” |
|
|
John 3:14-17 (ESV) | 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. |
|
|
John 6:40 (ESV) | 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” |
|
|
John 8:51-58 (ESV) | 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” |
|
|
John 17:3-5 (ESV) | 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. |
|
|
John 17:16-24 (ESV) | 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. |
|
|
1 John 3:8 (ESV) | 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. |
|
|
1 John 4:9-10 (ESV) | 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. |
|
|
1 John 4:14 (ESV) | 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. |
|
|
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (ESV) | 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (ESV) | 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” |
|
|
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 (ESV) | 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. |
|
|
2 Corinthians 1:19-20 (ESV) | 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. |
|
|
Romans 1:1-4 (ESV) | Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, |
|
|
Romans 8:28-30 (ESV) | 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. |
|
|
Romans 16:25-27 (ESV) | 25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. |
|
|
Galatians 1:11-12 (ESV) | 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. |
|
|
Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV) | 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. |
|
|
Ephesians 1:3-12 (ESV) | 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. |
|
|
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) | 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. |
|
|
Ephesians 3:7-11 (ESV) | 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, |
|
|
2 Timothy 1:8-10 (ESV) | 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, |
|
|
Hebrews 1:1-4 (ESV) | 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. |
|
|
Hebrews 2:5 (ESV) | 5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking |
|
|
Hebrews 2:9-10 (ESV) | 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. |
|
|
Hebrews 2:17-18 (ESV) | 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. |
|
|
Hebrews 7:21 – 28 (ESV) | 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: |
|
|
1 Peter 1:10-12 (ESV) | 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. |
|
|
Revelation 1:1-2 (ESV) | 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. |
|
|
Revelation 19:10 (ESV) | 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. |
|
|
Revelation 19:13 (ESV) | 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. |
|
|
6. “Jesus Is God” is Not an Ontological Statement
There are multiple meanings of “is.” Other than the “is” of identity, two common uses of “is” pertains to (1) what is being said of a subject and (2) what is present in a subject. What is being said of a subject is the “is” of essential predication, and what is present in a subject is the “is” of accidental predication. What is present in a subject is accidental (non-essential) to that subject. For example, it is not essential for Jesus to be God to be a human being. However, Jesus, a human being, can be “God” in a figurative or representative sense if God is in some way present in him, as in the case of his words and power originating from God. God was active in Christ, empowering Jesus with authority and power. Saying Jesus is God is saying nothing of his substance (essential predication) if the statement is an accidental prediction. Rather, it is saying that the quality of God is present in him, although he was a human in ontology. Accidental predication, as it applies to the statement “Jesus is God” is in the same sense that those to whom the Word of God came were called “gods” in John 10:34-36.
John 10:34 says Those to whom the word of God came were called “gods” as it is written in the Law, “I said you are gods.” This is regarding what it says in the Psa 82:6 -7, “I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” Exodus 7:1 refers to Moses being called god as it says, The LORD God also said to Moses “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. In several places in Exodus 21 and 22, human Judges were also referred to as “god”. (Exo 21:6, 22:8-9, 22:28) Accordingly, as Jesus notes in John 10:35, he called them gods to whom the word of God came, and this Scripture cannot be broken. Yet, Jesus, whom the Father concentrated and sent into the world, was only claiming to be the Son of God, as recorded in John 10:36. Thus, it can be understood that Jesus is “God” in a limited sense. By doing the works of the Father, he was operating as a Son of God as attested by John 10:37. It was clear that he was subservient to Father when he said, in John 8:54, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father, who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ Corresponding to these Scriptural references, Jesus can be called God based on the Biblical concept of Agency. See Biblical Agency
Jesus is “God” and is divine in various aspects as shown in the table below. In these respects, the divinity of Jesus does not require that Jesus be literally God including being equal with God in all aspects and being an eternal uncreated being coequal with the Father. It can be understood from the balanced testimony of Scripture that all Jesus has been given comes from the one God and Father. Jesus is subordinate to the Father. The power that Jesus has derives from God, who is the source.
|
How the one God and Father is God |
How Jesus is “God” |
|
All-knowing |
Jesus spoke the revelation of God as it was given to him by the one God and Father. (John 8:28-29, 12:49-50) Those to whom the word of God came were called gods. (John 10:34-37) |
|
Morally perfect in nature and character |
Jesus is sinless and perfectly reflects the moral character and nature of the one God and Father. |
|
Eternal – Uncreated (with no beginning) |
Jesus is the perfect embodiment of God’s eternal Word (Logos). God’s reasoning from the beginning of creation for creating the world including the plan for salvation that would be realized in Christ Jesus. |
|
Almighty, source of power and glory |
Jesus is at the right hand of God and empowered by the one God and Father. All things have been given to him. (John 5:21-29) This includes authority, judgment, lordship, the power to give the Holy Spirit, and the power to give eternal life. |
|
Creator of the heavens and earth ‘First and Last’ of all original creation “There is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist.” (1 Cor 8:6) |
Jesus is ‘the First and Last’ of God’s redemptive plan for creation (resurrection and salvation). Jesus is the ‘firstborn from the dead’ “There is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things and through whom we exist.” (i.e., remain in existence, 1 Cor 8:6) |
|
Lord, Savior, and Judge in the Old Covenant. |
Jesus is made Lord, savior, and judge in the New Covenant. |
Because of his obedience, even to death on a cross, God has highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:8-11) If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom 10:9) Jesus could do nothing on his own accord. (John 5:19) His judgment was just because he sought not his own will, but of him who sent him. (John 5:30)
Jesus said, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” (John 7:16) He said, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” (John 7:17) “The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true.” (John 7:18) Jesus said, “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” (John 8:28) He said, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’” (John 8:54) And he said, “My Father is greater than all.” (John 10:29) And again he said, “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. (John 12:49) “What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” (John 12:50) And he also said, “If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28) He told Mary, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (John 20:17)
Jesus told his disciples, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7) And he told them, “The Son of Man will be coming in clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 14:26). “Concerning that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32)
It says concerning Jesus, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” (Heb 1:9) Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. (Heb 3:1-2) God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. (1Cor 15:27) The head of Christ is God. (1Cor 11:3) The Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. (Gal 1:3-4) In harmony, with one voice, may we glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 15:6) May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. (Eph 1:17-20) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. (2 Cor 1:3)
The Father Alone is the Only True God
There is no God but one. (1 Cor 8:4, Deut 6:4) There is only one, the Father, who is the only True God in identity. (John 17:3) This is the God of Jesus and the Father of Jesus. (John 20:17). For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1 Cor 8:5-6) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:5-6) Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant and has entered the heavens to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. (Heb 9:15, 24) And this is eternal life, that they know the Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. (John 17:3) The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus. (Acts 3:13) The God of Israel exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:31) Let all the house of Israel, therefore, know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus who was crucified. (Acts 2:36) Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55) Jesus Christ made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father. (Rev 1:6) “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! (Rev 7:10)
In a strict sense, there is one God, the Father, and one lord, Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 8:6) Correspondingly, numerous scriptural references use the term “God” in reference to the Father and the term “Lord” pertaining to Jesus. Correspondingly, the typical phrase used in Paul’s greetings is, “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. These references include Romans 1:7, Romans 15:6, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 1:2-3, 2 Corinthians 11:31, Galatians 1:1-3, Ephesians 1:2-3, Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 5:20, Ephesians 6:23, Philippians 1:2, Philippians 2:11, Colossians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:2-3.
Many Scriptural references say that God raised Jesus from the dead, indicating a distinction between Jesus who was raised, and God who raised him. These references include Acts 2:23, Acts 2:32, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:10, Acts 5:30, Acts 10:40, Acts 13:30, Acts 13:37, Romans 6:4, Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 1 Corinthians 15:15, Galatians 1:1, Colossians 2:12, and 1 Peter 1:21.
Many Scriptural references refer to Jesus, being at “the right hand of God,” indicating a distinction between God, and Jesus who is at his right hand. These references include Mark 16:9, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:33, Acts 5:31, Acts 7:55-56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:17-19, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2, and 1 Peter 3:22. Accordingly, it is only the one God and Father who is literally God, and Jesus acts on behalf of God as God’s right-hand man.
It is often the case that one will try to make a case that Jesus is ontologically God based on verses that are translated from variant readings, verses that are translated in a biased manner, or verses with words added that were not part of the original text. Almost all of the theologically significant variants pertain to “orthodox” corruptions to the scripture in which a verse was modified to better fit with orthodox (Trinitarian) theology to support the dogma that Jesus was eternal and coequal with God the Father. The King James Version (KJV) is especially deceptive and unreliable. It includes text in 1 John 5:7-8 that is found in no Greek manuscript before the 14th century and it contains other additions that are not supported by the Greek manuscripts. Examples of corrupted text in support of Trinitarian theology, found in the King James Version, are 1 John 3:16, Acts 7:59, and 1 Timothy 3:16.
It is only the one God and Father who is literally God in a strict ontological sense. It is with this insight that Bible verses should be understood regarding the divinity of Christ. Modern English translations of the Bible are trustworthy when it comes to just about everything. However, there is some bias regarding some verses that appear to indicate that Jesus is literally God. One should be aware that English translations are typically misleading in this respect. Philippians 2:5-7, Colossians 1:15-20 and Colossians 2:8-13 are examples of passages that are typically translated with a bias that misguides the reader.
Conclusion
To summarize, Jesus is God in a non-essential sense (accidental predication) relating to God being in him and being a representative of God according to the Biblical concept of Agency. In a strict ontological sense (identity), there is only one God, the Father from whom all things exist and for whom we exist. (1Cor 8:5-6) Although Scripture does not convey that Jesus is God in identity, it does attest that Jesus is “God” in the sense of predication or agency:
- Jesus was a human representative of God. He is an agent of God and prophet, who spoke the words of God, and acted as the Father directed him. He was obedient to the Father even to death on a cross.
- Jesus is the embodiment of God’s Word. Prophecy, including God’s plan and purpose for creation centers around Christ.
- Jesus is a perfect expression or image of God’s nature. He embodied God’s character and personal attributes including the expression of God’s love, wisdom and justice, and is the principal example of one bearing the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit.
- Jesus is ‘the First and Last’ of God’s redemptive plan for creation (resurrection and salvation). Jesus is the ‘firstborn from the dead.’
- Jesus has been given the power and authority by the Father and is at the right hand of God. He is the one appointed by God to Judge the world in righteousness and to rule in the coming kingdom.
Unitarian vs. Trinitarian Christology:
John 10:34-36 (ESV) | 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? |
|
|
Psalms 82:6-7 (ESV) | 6 I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” |
|
|
Exodus 7:1 (ESV) | 1 And the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. |
|
|
Exodus 21:6 (ESV) | 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. |
|
|
Exodus 22:8-9 (ESV) | 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. |
|
|
Exodus 22:28 (ESV) | 28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. |
Psalms 45:6-7 (ESV) | 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; |
|
|
Psalms 45:6-7 (REV) | Your throne is God forever and ever. A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of exultation above your peers. |
|
|
Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV) | For to us a child is born, to 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. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. |
|
|
Isaiah 9:6-7 (REV) | For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will call his name Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Hero, Father of the Coming Age, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to sustain it with justice and with righteousness from that time on and forever. |
|
|
Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) | 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. |
|
|
Matthew 1:23 (ESV) | 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). |
|
|
John 10:30-37 (ESV) | 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; |
|
|
John 14:8-12 (ESV) | 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. |
|
|
John 20:26-31 (ESV) | 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. |
|
|
Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV) | 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
|
|
Philippians 2:5-11 (Alternative Rendering) | 5 Have this mind in yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who the expression of God – he is becoming. Not by robbery did he decree this – to be equated with God, 7 rather he humbled himself – he accepted the expression of a servant, being born in the similitude of men and being found in composition as a man. 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross. 9 And therefore God has highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 in order that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
|
|
Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) | 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. |
|
|
Colossians 1:15-20 (Alternative Rendering) | 15 He is the likeness of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For relating to him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and concerning him. 17 And he is first of all, and in him all things are arranged. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is principal – the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. |
|
|
Colossians 2:8-13 (ESV) | 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, |
|
|
Colossians 2:8-13 (Alternative Rendering) | 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the God bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, |
|
|
Hebrews 1:1-9 (ESV) | 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, |
|
|
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 (ESV) | For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) | But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. |
|
|
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV) | 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. |
|
|
John 5:19 (ESV) | 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. |
|
|
John 7:16-19 (ESV) | 6 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 |
|
|
John 8:28-29 (ESV) | So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” |
|
|
John 8:54 (ESV) | Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ |
|
|
John 10:29 (ESV) | My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. |
|
|
John 12:49-50 (ESV) | 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” |
|
|
John 14:28 (ESV) | You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. |
|
|
John 17:3 (ESV) | 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. |
|
|
John 20:17 (ESV) | 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” |
|
|
Acts 1:6-7 (ESV) | 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. |
|
|
Acts 2:36 (ESV) | 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” |
|
|
Acts 3:13 (ESV) | The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him |
|
|
Acts 5:30-31 (ESV) | 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. |
|
|
Acts 7:55-56 (ESV) | 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” |
|
|
Mark 13:31-32 (ESV) | 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. |
|
|
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (ESV) | 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. |
|
|
Romans 1:9 (ESV) | 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son |
|
|
Romans 10:9 (ESV) | 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. |
|
|
Romans 15:5-6 (ESV) | 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
|
|
1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (ESV) | 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. |
|
|
2 Corinthians 1:2-3 (ESV) | 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, |
|
|
Galatians 1:3-5 (ESV) | 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. |
|
|
Colossians 1:3 (ESV) | We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, |
|
|
Colossians 3:17 (ESV) | 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. |
|
|
Ephesians 1:17 (ESV) | 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, |
|
|
Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV) | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
|
|
Hebrews 1:8-9 (ESV) | 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, |
|
|
Hebrews 3:1-6 (ESV) | 1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. |
|
|
Hebrews 9:15, 24 (ESV) | 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant… 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. |
|
|
Revelation 1:5-6 (ESV) | 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. |
|
|
Revelation 5:6-13 (ESV) | 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! |
|
|
Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV) | 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” |
