Who Was Jesus? - I
A. THE NATURE OF CHRIST IS ALL IMPORTANT.
1. We need to know his relationship to God and us.
2. We need to know something of his essence.
B. CONTROVERSY!
1. JW's contend Jesus was a lesser god, or angel.
2. Not so - What does the Bible say?
A. PROPHECY( Isa. 9:6 ).
B. JESUS HAS GOD'S NAME.
1. "I am"( Ex. 3:14; John 8:58 ).
2. "The first and the last"( Isa. 44:6; Rev. 1:17 ).
3. "Alpha & Omega"( Rev. 1:8; 22:13 ).
C. JESUS WAS AT THE CREATION( John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:1-2 ).
1. Jesus was "first-born" of Creation( Col. 1:15 ).
2. Also of the dead( vs. 18 ).
3. "First-born" defined( Psa. 89:27; Rev. 1:5; John 5:26-29 ).
4. Doesn't always refer to "born first"( Jer. 31:9; Gen. 41:51-52; 48:19 ).
5. Context explains usage( Col. 1:15-18 ).
D. JESUS IS TO BE WORSHIPED
( Mat. 28:9, 17; Heb. 1:6; Mat 4:10; Rev. 22:8-9 ).
E. DOES NOT MEAN "SAME PERSON" - "SAME ESSENCE"( Col. 2:9 ).
PERSON: a self-conscious or rational being. - an individual of distinction or
importance. (Dictionary.com)
The composite of characteristics that make up an individual personality; the self.
Any of the three separate individualities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as
distinguished from the essence of the Godhead that unites them.
(The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)
1. Vine, "theotes indicates the divine essence of Godhood, the personality of
God."
2. A&G, "Deity, divinity."
3. Phil. 2:6. "morphe means the essential attributes as shown in the form. In
his preincarnate state, Christ possessed the attributes of God and so appeared
to those in Heaven who saw him." A. T. Robertson
4. Heb. 1:2-3.
F. JESUS IS NOT A LESSER GOD OR ANGEL( Heb. 1:4-8 ).
A. MUCH MORE TO BE SAID.
B. PERHAPS MANY QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED YET.