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Jesus Christ, the True GOD and true Man

There is a tendency to reduce Christ to a mere man, to a prophet, or to an angel. Some would agree that Christ is a god, but a god with a small “g”. They would regard Him as a lesser god, not as the true almighty God, Creator of everything.

Let us have a look what does the Bible teach about Christ? What does Christ say about Himself? What did the first Christians say about Christ?

In the Gospel of John, the Apostle speaks about Christ, the Eternal Word: Here are the words written by him: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.... And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s only son, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1: 1-14).

The Word of God became man. Mary gave birth to Him in Bethlehem (Mt 2:1).

The Book of Genesis points at God as the Creator of everything (Gn 1:1-31), and the Bible speaks about Jesus, the One through whom everything was created: Saint Paul writes about it in his Letter to the Colossians: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominations or rules or powers – all things have been created through him and for him (Col 1:15-17). This proves that Jesus is the God (YAHVEH), the Creator of everything.

In the Old Testament God calls Himself “ I am, who I am” (Ex 3:14). The name of God I am, who I am, Jesus applies to Himself: Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I AM (Jn 8:58). The Israelis, the Pharisees understood Christ’ correctly. They knew He was spiking about Himself being God that is why they picked up stones to kill Him for what they thought was the blasphemy.

God alone should be worshiped, as the prophet Isaiah says: To me every knee shall bend... (Is 45:22-23), yet those very words are addressed to Jesus Himself. So Saint Paul says:“...so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord [1], to the glory of God the Father “ (Ph 2:10-11).

God called Himself the First and the Last (Is 44:6). Jesus applies that title to Himself: ‘I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev 22:13).

Only God can forgive sins. Jesus with His own power forgave the people’s sins, sending a clear message about Him being God: Saint Mark wrote:“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to a paralytic, “Son your sins are forgive ...But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins -he said to the paralytic-“I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home” (Mk 2:5; 10-11).

Only God can cure the sick and resurrect the dead. Jesus performed many miracles, cured many diseases, brought the dead to life (Jn 5:1-9; 9:1-7; 11:1-44).

All these miracles were performed with power, which belongs to God alone, proving His deity:“Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes” (Jn 5:21).

Christ clearly manifested His divinity when while saying:“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it back “(Jn 10:17-18).

Saint Paul speaks about Christ being God: '... and from them according to flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen' (Rm 9:5).

Peter proclaims the same faith in Christ as God: In his Second Letter he wrote: "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 P 1:1).

In the letter to the Hebrews God speaks about His Son, calling Him God: "... but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever” (Heb 1: 8).

Christ rebuked the Devil with words which shows that He Himself is God: "... Do not put the Lord your God to the test (Mt 4: 1-7).

After the resurrection, Thomas one of the twelve, manifested his faith in Jesus as God calling Him: “My Lord and my God “(Jn 20:28).

Paul in his Letter to the Colossians writs: “In Christ the fullness of the deity dwells bodily “(Col 2:8-9).

The whole teaching of the New Testament points at Christ to be true God equal to the Father. Jesus said: "The Father and I are ONE " (Jn 10:30).

The same belief in Christ- being God was held by the first Christians, the first followers of the Apostles and the same faith is being kept in the Catholic CHURCH for two thousand years. Let us look at some of the Apostolic Fathers:

Ignatius of Antioch (died in the year 110 A.D.) acknowledges: Christ is true God and true Man: “For our God Jesus Christ was conceived by Mary in accord with God’s plan...” (Letter to Ephesians 1).

Justin (died in the year 165 A.D.) says: ...who [Christ] is both the first-born Word of God and is God (First Apology 63).

Origen (died in the year 254 A.D.) says: Although He was God, He took flesh; and having been made man, He remained what He was, God (1, Preface,4).

You may watch a wideo clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wopZ9y6tXE&t=2s

The TRINITY

Some believers accept the Bible verses which say about one God, the Creator of heaven and earth (Gen 1:16-27). They would agree that God is the Father, quoting the Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1Cor 8:6). But they reject other verses of the Bible which point at Jesus, the Son of God, to be the true God. They don’t accept either the Biblical references which speak of the Holy Spirit as a true God.Let us look at the Biblical citations which speak about Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be true God.

JESUS CHRIST IS GOD.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (Jn 1:1-2).

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory that He has from the Father, as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14).

Saint Paul speaks about Christ being God: '... and from them according to flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen' (Rm 9:5). Saint Paul says more about Jesus, the Son of God: But of the Son He says, “Your throne, o God, is for ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His Kingdom” (He 1:8).

According to John’s Gospel, Christ to be equal to the Father: “ I and the Father are one” (Jn 10:30)

HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD.

In the Acts of the Apostles Saint Luke speaks about Holy Spirit being God:But Peter said, “Ananias, why has satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (Act 5:3-4). Saint John says about the Holy Spirit, the One who will teach others: “ but the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you” (Jn 14:26)

There are three distinct Persons

During the Baptism of Jesus, three Persons have manifested themselves: “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and alighting on Him and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Mt 3:16-17).

Jesus has ordered His Apostles to Baptize people in the name of the three person: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:19-20)

There is only one God and at the same time the Bible teaches about three different Persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. One God and the three Persons is expressed in another words, the Triune God - the Trinity .

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JESUS CHRIST