How are the Father and Jesus related?
Question:
Dear Brethren in Christ,
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I hope this email finds you in good health and spirit.
Recently, certain doctrinal questions have arisen within our congregation. Some members are concerned that our local preacher's teachings regarding the nature and deity of Christ differ from what has traditionally been taught and believed in many churches of Christ in the area.
Because of the confusion these matters have caused, we would greatly appreciate your biblical insight and comments on the following points.
Is Jesus God?
Our local preacher teaches that Jesus is not only the Son of God but is also God. In support of this position, he cites passages such as Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; and I John 5:20.
The common belief in many churches of Christ in my region is that Jesus is the Son of God but is not God Himself.
Could you please provide your biblical understanding and comments on this matter?
Is Jesus Jehovah, or Does He Share in the Divine Identity of Jehovah?
Our local preacher teaches that Jesus is Jehovah or shares in Jehovah's divine identity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He cites Hebrews 11:26; Matthew 12:28; I Corinthians 10:9; Psalms 102:25–27 with Hebrews 1:10–12; Psalm 89:8–9; Mark 4:39; Isaiah 6; and John 12:41.
He also refers to the article "Is Jesus Jehovah?" to support his view.
For many decades, the churches in my region have generally understood Jehovah to refer exclusively to the Father. Consequently, this teaching has generated considerable discussion and confusion among our brethren.
Would you kindly provide your comments and biblical perspective on this subject?
Is Jesus Worthy of Worship?
Our local preacher teaches that Jesus is worthy of worship. He cites passages such as Romans 9:5 and Revelation 7:10.
The common belief in many churches of Christ in my region is that worship should be directed only to the Father, based on passages such as John 4:23–24.
Could you please explain your understanding of this matter from Scripture?
Does God Have a Triune Nature?
Our local preacher teaches that God is triune in nature (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). He cites Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, and I John 5:7 (NKJV).
The churches in my region do not traditionally hold the doctrine of the Trinity. Rather, we believe that God is one, namely the Father.
Would you please share your biblical assessment of this teaching?
We sincerely desire to understand the Scriptures correctly and to preserve unity in the truth. Therefore, we would be grateful for any biblical guidance, explanations, or resources you can provide regarding these matters.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.
Answer:
Before we begin, let's establish that it doesn't matter what has been traditionally taught or what the preacher says. The only thing that matters is what the Lord says, since He is the head of the church. "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23).
I couldn't help but notice that while you listed verses that your preacher used to prove his position, you have no verses used by the brethren in your region to prove their position. That should be a warning sign.
Is Jesus God?
John begins his book with this statement: "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 were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:1-4). John claims that the Word was both with God and was God. In order to be "with" requires multiple beings; hence, we conclude that God is composed of more than one being. We also see that the Word was completely involved in all creation; therefore, the Word cannot Himself be created.
Continuing in John, we read, "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:10-12, 14). Here we read that the Word came in the flesh to dwell among men. The Word is Jesus Christ.
Therefore, John answers the question. See "Is Jesus God?" for additional details. The passages your preacher used also establish this point.
Is Jesus Jehovah, or Does He Share in the Divine Identity of Jehovah?
"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Jesus wears the same names as the Father even though they are separate beings. Before Jesus' birth, it was prophesied that one of his names would be Immanuel. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel," which translated means, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:23). Yet, the LORD (Jehovah) stated in the past: "'You are My witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and there is no savior besides Me'" (Isaiah 43:10-11). There is no God or Savior but Jehovah, yet Jesus is God and Savior (Titus 2:13). Thus, Jesus is a part of the Godhead.
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him" (Colossians 1:15-19).
"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority" (Colossians 2:9-10).
In other words, Christ, while he was here on earth, completely represented God. This was by the Father's design. Jesus exists in the form of God.
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:5-11).
Therefore, yes, Jesus is Jehovah and so is the Father. See "Jesus Is God" for more details.
Is Jesus Worthy of Worship?
"And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.' Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.' And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.'And the four living creatures kept saying, 'Amen.' And the elders fell down and worshiped" (Revelation 5:9-14).
Angels and men refuse worship, but Jesus received worship without rebuke.
"And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, 'And let all the angels of God worship him'" (Hebrews 1:6)
See also Matthew 2:11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9, 17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 9:38. For more on this topic, see "God Was Manifest in the Flesh," "Jesus' Deity While on Earth," and "The Deity of Christ."
Does God Have a Triune Nature?
