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ParticipantGod’s love is very different from human love, including friendship love, in its depth, breadth, and unconditional nature.
Aspects of God’s Love:
1. Unconditional and Unending: God’s love is not based on our performance or merit. It is an unconditional love that endures forever. This means that regardless of our mistakes or shortcomings, God’s love remains constant and unwavering. In Romans 5:8, it is written, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
2. Sacrificial and Redemptive: God’s love is demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. This act of love provides redemption and salvation to humanity (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8). God’s love is not just a feeling but a tangible action that seeks our well being and restoration.
3. Transformative: God’s love has the power to transform our lives, enabling us to live according to His will and purposes (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20). As we experience God’s love, we are empowered to love others, forgive, and live a life that honors Him.Differences from Friendship Love
1. Depth and Endurance: Friendship love, though precious, can be conditional and may fluctuate based on circumstances. However, God’s love is eternal and unwavering. Psalm 103:17 says, “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.”
2. Purity and Motive: Human friendships can sometimes be tainted by ulterior motives or self-interest. God’s love, on the other hand, is pure and selfless.1 John 4:8 states, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” God’s love is not driven by personal gain but by His nature.
3. Scope and Impact: While friendships are significant and impactful, God’s love encompasses all of humanity and creation. His love is universal and seeks the redemption and well-being of all people. God’s love is not limited by human constraints or relationships.In summary, a true understanding of God’s love brings about the realization of His unconditional, sacrificial, and transformative nature. Unlike friendship love, God’s love is unwavering, pure, and universal. As we get to understand the depth of God’s love, we are empowered to live a life that shows forth His love and mercy to others. We can see from the scriptures that God’s Love stands apart, offering hope, redemption, and eternal assurance to all who experience it.
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ParticipantYour essay offers a comprehensive exploration of the diverse roles angels played in the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts. I particularly appreciated your focus on how angels delivered crucial messages and guidance, such as the encounters with Philip and Cornelius, which marked significant moments in the gospel’s expansion to new groups. Your discussion of the protective role of angels, including Peter’s miraculous escape from prison and the apostles’ release, effectively demonstrated how God utilized angels to support and empower His people. Your emphasis on angels executing divine judgment was especially noteworthy, serving as a reminder of God’s sovereignty and justice in the New Testament era. I also valued your connection between the strengthening role of angels and their ministry of encouragement, particularly in Paul’s storm experience in Acts 27, highlighting God’s constant presence even in times of crisis. Overall, your essay was informative and spiritually enriching, providing a thoughtful examination of the roles of angels in the early church.
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ParticipantAngels played several important roles in the life of the early church. These roles were pivotal, as they all in some way heralded a new era in the life of an individual (as seen in their involvement in the eunuch’s conversion) or helped introduce a new era in the Christian faith (as seen in the conversion of Cornelius, who wasn’t a Jew). All these and more will be briefly elaborated on in the paragraphs below.
The following are ways angels played a role in the life of the early church:
ANGELS DELIVER GOD’S WILL AND DIRECTION
Angels delivered God’s will and direction by serving as messengers, delivering important instructions from God to His servants. This is seen in Acts 8:26, where an angel instructed Philip to approach the Ethiopian eunuch, resulting in the eunuch’s conversion and baptism and the subsequent spread of the gospel. In addition, we also see in Acts 10:3–6 where an angel appeared to Cornelius, a Roman centurion, with instructions to send for Peter, thereby marking the beginning of the gospel being preached to the Gentiles—indicating that salvation is not only for the Jews.ANGELS AID IN PROTECTION AND DELIVERANCE
Angels played a vital role in protecting the apostles and delivering them from danger, as seen in Acts 12:6–11, where an angel freed Peter from prison even when it looked hopeless. This not only brought joy and freedom to Peter but served as a great source of encouragement and a faith booster to the early church. In addition to this, we also see in Acts 5:19–20, where an angel opened the prison doors for the apostles after they were arrested for preaching in the name of Jesus, allowing them to continue preaching in the temple. Again, this gives reassuring confidence in God’s ever-protective ability in the face of adversity—even in the places He has called you to and in the assignment He has given to you.ANGELS ALSO PROVIDED COMFORT AND ASSURANCE DURING DIFFICULT TIMES
Angels also provided comfort and assurance during difficult times for the early church, as exemplified by an angel standing beside Paul during the shipwreck on Malta in Acts 27:23–24, assuring him that he and all on board would survive the storm, thereby giving the people hope. This again underscores the truth that, come what may, we are not alone as believers.CONCLUSION
The supernatural actions of angels in Acts validated the authority of the apostles and demonstrated divine endorsement of key events, such as the inclusion of Gentiles (Acts 10). Their deliverance of believers showed that God was actively working on behalf of His people, affirming His sovereignty and plan for the early church. This also clearly shows that angels were not passive figures; they actively guided, protected, delivered, and encouraged early believers. Their presence affirmed the divine nature of the early church’s mission, demonstrating God’s power and presence as the gospel spread beyond Jerusalem. The involvement of angels reveals the collaboration between heaven and earth in establishing the foundation of Christianity.bright022
ParticipantBefore I proceed to explain how a proper understanding of sin has helped me in my Christian walk, it is important to first define sin and highlight some key facts about it.
Definition of Sin
Sin simply means “to miss the mark” and, as a result, not share in the prize. It also means to err, offend, or trespass.
Another definition of sin, as seen in 1 John 3:4, is lawlessness or transgression of God’s will either by omitting what God’s Word requires or by doing what it forbids.
It is important to note that sin can occur in three ways: in your thoughts, words, and actions.
In thoughts – 1 John 3:15 states that hatred in the heart is equivalent to murder.
In words – Matthew 5:22 warns against speaking in anger without cause.
In actions – Romans 1:32 speaks of sinful deeds and their consequences.
To summarize, sin is the degeneration from the original good state in which God created humanity. It is crucial to understand that this degeneration was not orchestrated by the Creator, nor was it intentionally placed in man at creation. Instead, it resulted from a willful act of disobedience by man, which affected his original state of goodness. Ecclesiastes 7:29 affirms this by stating that God made men upright.Key Facts About Sin
1. Sin is a willful act of disobedience to God’s commands.
There is a Creator God who has laid down principles and ways in His Word regarding how He wants things to be done. Willfully going against His ways is sin. A look at the introduction of sin in the Garden of Eden shows that sin always results when man disobeys God’s Word (Genesis 3).2. Sin is not determined by God.
Anyone who claims that God determines sin is indirectly suggesting that God created humans as robots with no free will. But that is not true. A righteous God would not create humans only to program them to sin or act against His will. Since sin is a willful disobedience to God’s command, it comes with consequence,s and the Bible makes it clear that sin always leads to consequences. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This consequence is not just physical death but also spiritual separation from God. Sin corrupts, enslaves, and ultimately brings destruction when left unchecked (James 1:15).3. Sin is not an irresistible pleasure for humanity.
One of the most powerful biblical truths is that sin is not an irresistible force. God has given believers the ability to overcome temptation through His Word and the Holy Spirit. James 4:7 states, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This means that while sin is a reality we are faced with, it is not an inescapable trap; we have the power through Christ to resist and live righteously.
The understanding that sin is a decision will help believers resist sin when tempted to sin. The only challenge, however, is that people do not realize how quickly they make that decision due to the fallen nature of man, which was introduced in the Garden of Eden when Adam fell. However, sin is not an irresistible pleasure that we are powerless against. As Christians, we now have a recreated human spirit that desires to please God. The more we yield to God’s Word and His Spirit, the greater our capacity to resist sin.How Understanding Sin Has Helped Me in My Christian Walk
The fact that sin is a choice has had a profound impact on my Christian life. Many times, people justify sinful actions by blaming external circumstances, but I have come to realize that every act of sin is a decision I make. This understanding has made me more conscious of my actions, thoughts, and words. Instead of feeling powerless against temptation, I now take responsibility for my choices and rely on God’s Word for strength. I have learned that through prayer, studying Scripture, and yielding to the Holy Spirit, I can make choices that align with God’s will rather than giving in to sin.
Conclusion
A proper biblical understanding of sin shapes how I live as a Christian. Knowing that sin is a deliberate act, that it carries consequences, and that it is resistible has empowered me to live a life that honors God. Through this study, I am learning to be more intentional in my walk with Christ, seeking His strength daily to overcome sin and grow in my knowledge of righteousness.bright022
ParticipantIntroduction
The origin of the human soul has been a subject of theological and philosophical analysis for years. Many scholars have proposed different explanations, leading to various schools of thought, each offering a different perspective on how the soul comes into existence. There are three basic theological perspectives on the origin of the soul:1. Those who believe that the soul and body are inherited from one’s parents at birth.
2. Those who believe that the soul is created by God at the moment of a child’s conception.
3. Those who believe that souls existed before conception or birth and are sent by God into bodies.Each view has its biblical, philosophical, and theological arguments, and understanding them helps in forming an informed position.
First View:
The first view holds that the human soul, along with the body, is inherited from the parents. Proponents of this view argue that since humans inherit their sinful nature from Adam (Romans 5:12), it makes sense that the soul, like the body, is passed down through natural generation. Additionally, Genesis 2:7 states that God created Adam’s soul directly, but there is no mention of God continuing to create individual souls after Adam. Further study shows that proponents of this view believe that the inheritance of the soul from one’s parents aligns with modern genetics, as it provides a way to explain the transmission of personality traits and moral tendencies.
However, one major criticism of this view is that it suggests the soul is divisible or material in some way, which contradicts the Christian belief that the soul is an indivisible, immaterial entity.Second View:
Another view holds that each soul is created directly by God at the moment of conception or birth. Advocates of this view use passages like Ecclesiastes 12:7, which states, “the spirit returns to God who gave it,” as evidence that the soul is given directly by God. This perspective preserves the immaterial nature of the soul and aligns with the idea that humans are uniquely made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
However, this view faces some challenges, particularly regarding the doctrine of original sin. If God creates each soul directly, how does the sinful nature pass from Adam to his descendants? Some argue that original sin is transmitted through the body rather than the soul, but this raises further theological questions.Third View:
This theological view proposes that human souls existed before birth and are either sent by God into bodies or choose to inhabit them. This view has been associated with Origen in early Christianity and has parallels in Eastern religions. Some cite Jeremiah 1:5 (“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”) as support for this perspective.
The major problem with this view is that it lacks strong biblical support and is often associated with ideas foreign to Christian doctrine, such as reincarnation.Personal View and Conclusion
After examining these views, I find the second view, that God creates the human soul directly at the moment of conception, to be theologically and biblically sound to some extent, though it does raise questions about original sin. The idea that God directly creates each soul preserves the immaterial, unique nature of human beings and aligns with Scripture’s depiction of God as the giver of life. However, the first view provides a compelling explanation for inherited sin, so I acknowledge its strengths while maintaining that God creates the human soul at conception.Ultimately, while the exact mechanism of the soul’s origin remains a bit unclear, Scripture affirms that humans are made in the image of God and possess an eternal soul. As Christians, our focus should be on living in a way that honors God, regardless of the finer details of how our souls came into existence.
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ParticipantThe conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit is a vital aspect of the Christian faith. It is the process by which the Holy Spirit convicts individuals of their sins, leading them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The word “conviction” means to confute, to admonish, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, and reprove. According to John 16:8-11, there are three things Jesus says the Holy Spirit convicts people of: sin, righteousness, and judgment. An instance of this can be seen in Acts 2:37-41, where Peter preached to the crowd on the day of Pentecost.
As Peter preached, the Holy Spirit convicted the people of their sins, and they were “cut to the heart.” This conviction led to a response, as the people asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter then responded, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
This passage clearly demonstrates the three points I listed above about the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit.
1. It demonstrates the Holy Spirit’s role in convicting people of their sins. The people’s response to Peter’s message was not simply a result of his persuasive preaching but rather the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. This shows that it is the Holy Spirit who makes one realize the need for the Savior Jesus Christ, in whom they can obtain forgiveness of sins by putting their faith in Him. The passage shows that conviction of sin leads to repentance and faith. The people’s response to the conviction, asking what they must do to be saved, revealed that they realized they needed the gift of righteousness, which can only be obtained in Christ and this realisation was made possible by the Holy Spirit.
2. The passage shows that conviction of sin leads to repentance and faith. The people’s response to the conviction by asking what they must do to be saved revealed that they realized that they needed the gift of righteousness which can only be obtained in Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that brings the consciousness of the gift of righteousness. In other words, it is through the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit that the people got to know that they needed to have a right standing with God and Jesus is the only way to achieve that.
3. Thirdly, judgment: the passage illustrates the immediate and transformative nature of the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit. The people did not delay in their response but rather responded immediately. This revealed that only the Holy Spirit can convict someone in Satan’s bondage that they are in illegal captivity by revealing to them that Jesus has already defeated the enemy. Through this, three thousand people were added to the church that day, demonstrating the powerful and transformative nature of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.
In conclusion, the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit is a vital aspect of the Christian faith. The example in Acts 2:37-41 demonstrates the Holy Spirit’s role in convicting individuals of their sin, the link between conviction and repentance, and the immediate and transformative nature of this ministry. As we seek to share the gospel with others, we must rely on the Holy Spirit’s conviction ministry to bring people to faith, knowing that it is the Holy Spirit who has the work of convincing, not the individual. He does this as we preach the Word.
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ParticipantThe fall of man in the Garden of Eden, as recorded in Genesis 3, had far-reaching consequences that affected humanity’s relationship with God, themselves, and the world around them. As I mentioned above, there are consequences or effects of Adam’s high treason in the Garden of Eden, but below are three that I have chosen to discuss.
Separation from God:
The immediate effect of the fall was separation from God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they broke the perfect harmony they had with God. This act of disobedience introduced sin into the world, and as a result, humanity in Adam became spiritually separated from God (Genesis 3:6-7, Romans 3:23). This separation led to a loss of intimacy and fellowship with God, and Adam and Eve were no longer able to walk with God in the same way as before.
Their spirits died the moment they disobeyed God because, as God had said, the day they ate from the tree, they would surely die (Genesis 2:17). Indeed, they died spiritually and, as a result, could no longer relate to God, who is a Spirit. Since they were dead spiritually, they couldn’t enjoy intimate fellowship with God anymore. This spiritual death also led to physical death in the world. Adam and Eve, who were created to live forever, now became mortal (Genesis 2:17, Romans 5:12). Physical death became a reality, and humanity has been subject to it ever since. However, through faith in Jesus Christ, we can have hope of eternal life and resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:50-57, Revelation 21:4).Sin Consciousness:
The fall of man also introduced sin consciousness into the world. Adam and Eve, who were previously innocent and without a sense of guilt, now became aware of their nakedness and felt ashamed (Genesis 3:7-10). This awareness of sin led to feelings of guilt, shame, and condemnation, which have been universal human experiences ever since.
Sin consciousness is the awareness of our sinful nature and the guilt, shame, and condemnation that come with it. It is the realization that we have fallen short of God’s standards and that we are deserving of punishment. Sin consciousness can lead to fear, anxiety, and despair as we struggle to come to terms with our sinful nature and the consequences of our actions.
However, through faith in Jesus Christ, we can overcome this as we walk in the reality of the nature of righteousness we received when we got born again. In Romans 8:1-2, the apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Additionally, Romans 5:17 states, “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” This verse emphasizes that through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be free from the guilt, shame, and condemnation of sin consciousness as we walk in the reality of our right standing with God.Fear and Anxiety:
The fall of man introduced fear and anxiety into the world. Adam and Eve became afraid of God and hid from Him when God came visiting in the cool of the evening, as He always did, and since then, humanity has struggled with fear and anxiety (Genesis 3:10, Hebrews 2:14-15). Fear and anxiety have since become present in human experiences, affecting every aspect of human life.
The Bible lets us know that fear and anxiety are not from God but rather are the result of humanity’s sinful nature and separation from God (2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 8:15). However, through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome fear and anxiety and live in the peace and freedom of God’s presence.In summary, there are many effects of the fall of man, but whatever seems to be the effect, the good news is that through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, they were all conquered. If any man puts faith in the finished works of Christ, he is restored, and through the renewal of the mind, is guaranteed a different experience from that of unbelievers and carnal believers.
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ParticipantThe Bible teaches that God’s nature is immutable, meaning He cannot change (Hebrews 6:17-18, Malachi 3:6, James 1:17). God cannot change, neither can He lie; He says what He means and means what He says. We have to understand the nature of God. He is the good God. There is no evil in God, and there is no situation or circumstances where God will respond to you in evil. So it is an established truth that the nature of God cannot change.
Rather, His responses of goodness and mercy, which are characteristics of His good nature, are what men often confuse as God-changing. God may say something or predict a future that is going to happen, but because of His merciful and good nature, He may respond to a cry of repentance from a man, and that event or situation may not happen as foreseen. This is not because He changed, as it were, but because He responded by His unchanging nature, which is merciful and good to a changing man.
By that, I mean that man is ever-changing. As a result of this, a man may have done something, and there is a consequence of his sin or actions, but if he turns around and asks for mercy genuinely, he is going to get mercy instead of what he deserves.
This alludes to what Henry Thiessen said in his book Lectures in Systematic Theology: “The immutability of God is not to be confused with immobility. God is active and enters into relationships with changing men. In these relationships, it is necessary for an unchanging God to change in His dealings with changing men in order to remain unchanging in His character and purposes.”
The following scriptures are places and events where God changed His mind:
For instance, in Exodus 32:1-15, God had just given the Israelites the Ten Commandments, and while Moses was receiving further instructions from God, the people persuaded Aaron to create a golden calf for them to worship (Exodus 32:1-6). God saw this and told Moses that He would destroy the Israelites for their idolatry (Exodus 32:7-10). However, Moses interceded for the people, reminding God of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and asking Him to spare the Israelites (Exodus 32:11-13). The Bible then states that “the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened” (Exodus 32:14).
Again, in 2 Kings 20:1-11 and Isaiah 38:1-8, when King Hezekiah was sick and near death, God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell him that he would not recover. However, Hezekiah prayed and wept, and God extended his life by 15 years.
Also, in the book of Jonah Chapter 3, Prophet Jonah was instructed by God to go to Nineveh, and proclaim a message of judgment. Jonah was to warn the people of Nineveh that God had seen their wickedness and would destroy the city in 40 days if they did not repent (Jonah 3:4). However, the people of Nineveh, from the king to the lowest citizen, took Jonah’s message seriously. They declared a fast, put on sackcloth, and turned from their evil ways. Even the animals were included in the fast, and the king issued a decree calling for the people to turn from their violence and injustice (Jonah 3:5-9). When God saw the people’s repentance, He relented and did not destroy the city as He had said.
Furthermore, in Genesis 18:16-21, God informed Abraham of His plan to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their wickedness. However, Abraham was concerned about the fate of his nephew, Lot, who lived in Sodom. Abraham turned to God and asked if He would destroy the righteous along with the wicked. He asked God if He would spare the city if there were 50 righteous people in it (Genesis 18:23-25). God agreed to spare the city for the sake of the 50 righteous people. Abraham, however, continued to negotiate with God. He asked if God would spare the city if there were only 45 righteous people, then 40, 30, 20, and finally 10 (Genesis 18:26-32). Each time, God agreed to spare the city for the sake of the righteous people.
Reconciling all the scriptures to the unchanging nature of God, one thing appears to be constant in all of them – repentance and intercession. This shows that in God’s dealings with men, His immutability should not be confused with immobility. Because He is dealing with a constantly changing man who has free will. God’s mobility enables Him to interact with men without changing His nature and attributes.
When a man cries out to God, God’s merciful and good character enables Him to respond with forgiveness, withholding what the man deserves and giving him what he doesn’t by His grace. This beautiful attribute of God may appear to mean God changing His mind. Whereas in the real sense of it, He is only remaining true to who He is. In addition, God’s forgiveness should not be mistaken as Him changing but rather a demonstration of His consistency in nature.
In conclusion, God’s actions and decisions can appear to change in response to human actions and intercession. However, this does not necessarily contradict God’s unchanging nature, which refers to His character and attributes.
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ParticipantAs a believer in Christ Jesus, one of the ways your Christianity becomes visible to others, especially unbelievers, is through good works that result from a relationship with Jesus. This relationship is made possible through your new birth, which gave you a new nature of love.
However, it’s essential to remember that these good works did not grant you salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states that we were saved by grace and not by works. This means that no amount of good works can earn salvation; instead, it’s through faith in the finished work of Christ.
You might wonder, then, how good works that stem from a relationship with Christ are necessary for bearing witnes for Him. Verse 10 of Ephesians 2 provides the answer: “We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” This means that our salvation, which is purely a work of grace and faith, involves our recreation into a new being that can truly do good works that bring glory to God.
This is possible because, at our new birth, we were translated from darkness to light, and now we are children of light. As a result, we bring light to our world through our works, which are enabled by our relationship with Jesus. Every light has a source, and the quality of the light depends on that source. Just as the sun’s light is brighter and higher than the moon’s and stars’, our good works can only truly shine when they stem from a relationship with Christ.
Matthew 5:15-16 reinforces this point: “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” This scripture emphasizes that good works are expected of believers, and these works should inspire others to glorify God.
The question, then, is not whether good works are expected, but whether you have an active relationship with Jesus that enables you to do good works that bring glory to Him. Any good works that do not stem from a relationship with Christ are merely acts of philanthropy, not bearing witness to Christ.
As Paul emphasized in Ephesians 2:10, “We are created unto good works.” This means that recreation is necessary to do good works that truly bear witness for Christ.
The story of the rich man in Matthew 19:16-26 illustrates this point. The rich man asked Jesus what good things he must do to be saved, revealing his misconception that salvation could be earned through good works. Jesus’ response showed the rich man that his good works were rooted in selfishness, not a genuine relationship with God. Despite claiming to have kept all the commandments since his youth, the rich man’s good works did not lead him to salvation. Instead, Jesus presented him with a way of grace, instructing him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. However, the rich man’s inability to rejoice at this instruction exposed the true motivation behind his good works – selfishness, not a desire to glorify God.
In conclusion, 1 John 2:3&6 reminds us that we ought to walk in the same way Jesus walked. Jesus went about doing good and healing those who were afflicted. As followers of Christ, good works are expected of us, and by doing so, we bear witness for Christ.
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ParticipantJesus, during his earthly ministry, understood and walked with the consciousness that he is not just fully man but also fully God. His constant pronouncements or declarations of these truths made it known to many that indeed he is the Son of God, though the Jews couldn’t stand this declaration of his as The Son of God. That didn’t deter him in any way, as he was confident about who he was, where he came from, and his relationship with The Father.
Below are four scriptures that show The Deity of Christ and my understanding of them:
1. John 2:16
“And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise.'”Jesus’s emphatic declaration of The Temple, a place of worship to God, as His Father’s house, did not only show his recognition of God as his Father but, by calling God Father, he automatically declared his sonship and the place he holds in the Trinity. This declaration as His Father’s house made it clear that he is conscious of his relationship with the Father, and this relationship spurred him into protecting his Father’s house.
1. John 4:25-26
25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”
26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”The Jews, through The prophet, had been told of a Messiah who would come into the world, forgive them of their sins and those of the whole world, and reconcile them back to God. Ever since, they had been waiting for this Messiah. Jesus’s response to The Samaritan woman, who spoke of the Messiah to come, by affirming that He is that Messiah, buttresses his claim as God, declaring Him as having the power to forgive sins and reconcile the world back to God.
1. John 6:32-33
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
Again, Jesus’s declaration of God as his Father points to his consciousness of his special relationship with God, granting him access to call Him Father and, by that, inferring he is the Son of God, which means he was equal with God. Another revelation from this scripture is his acknowledgement that he is the true bread from heaven, revealing his claim of coming down from God and thereby residing with Him, as coming down from heaven means heaven is his home.1. John 7:33
Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.”
Jesus’s declaration that he will soon go back to Him who sent him is another proof of his Deity and His claim that he came from God. If he came from God, that means he resides with God; if he resides with God, that means he is one with God.Throughout the Gospel of John are scriptures that help show the Deity of God, but I’ve chosen to focus on the four listed above.
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