Comment on EBF's "Bible Exalted!" program regarding Jesus as God
"Attempt number three.
These verses show how Jesus was recognized as the Son of God during His earthly ministry.
Matthew 3:17 – “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 14:33 – “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 16:16 – “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 27:43 – “He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
Matthew 27:54 – “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Mark 1:1 – “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Mark 3:11 – “You are the Son of God.”
Mark 15:39 – “Truly this man was the Son of God.”
Luke 1:35 – “He will be called the Son of God.”
Luke 4:41 – “You are the Son of God!”
Luke 22:70 – “You say that I am.”
John 1:34 – “I have seen and testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John 1:49 – “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
John 3:16–18 – “His only begotten Son…”
John 5:25 – “The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God.”
John 10:36 – “I am God’s Son.”
John 11:4 – “So that God’s Son may be glorified.”
John 11:27 – “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
John 20:31 – “That you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God…”
Acts 8:37 – “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Romans 1:4 – “Declared to be the Son of God with power…”
Romans 5:10 – “Reconciled to God through the death of His Son.”
Romans 8:3 – “God sent His own Son…”
Romans 8:29 – “Conformed to the image of His Son.”
1 Corinthians 1:9 – “Called into fellowship with His Son.”
2 Corinthians 1:19 – “The Son of God, Jesus Christ…”
Galatians 2:20 – “Faith in the Son of God…”
Galatians 4:4–6 – “God sent His Son…”
Ephesians 4:13 – “Knowledge of the Son of God…”
Hebrews 1:2–5 – “Spoken to us by His Son…”
Hebrews 4:14 – “Jesus the Son of God…”
Hebrews 6:6 – “Crucifying the Son of God afresh…”
Hebrews 7:3 – “Resembling the Son of God…”
Hebrews 10:29 – “Trampled the Son of God…”
Jesus distinguishes himself from God: “The Father is greater than I.” — John 14:28
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” — Matthew 27:46
“I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” — John 20:17
Jesus shows limited knowledge: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” — Matthew 24:36
Jesus prays to God: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” — Luke 22:42
“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” — Luke 5:16
Paul’s writings on hierarchy: “The head of Christ is God.” — 1 Corinthians 11:3
“Then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” — 1 Corinthians 15:28
“There is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came.” — 1 Corinthians 8:6"
EBF reply:
I apologize if your comment was deleted. EBF has several admins and it may have been deleted by them. I don't know why. We ask for and love Scriptural feedback. Additionally, EBF has answered the question regarding the Bible's teaching on the Trinity countless times and looks forward to do so and glorifying God the Lord Jesus Christ once more.
In Bible study, God has laid out certain principles for finding truth and true doctrine in His Word. One of these principles is harmonization. This principle means that every doctrinal conclusion we come to MUST fit perfectly in line with everything else in the Bible. It must harmonize and not contradict any other verse in Scripture.
I brought up to you Revelation 1:5 (unto God and His Father) and Hebrews 1:8 (Unto the Son He saith, Thy throne O God) as well as 1 John 5:7 that speaks of the three as One.
You completely ignored these verses in your response. If your teaching is correct then you cannot simply present the verses you like and be content that's the answer. No. You must say here's what I believe the Bible is teaching (your set of Scriptures as above) and here is how we are to understand Revelation 1:5/Hebrews 1:8/1 John 5:7. That's proper Bible study and the way to come to truth.
While you're at it – you will also need to harmonize hundreds of other Scriptures, such as:
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: (plural pronouns not singular used in reference to God + Hebrew word God is Elohim which is a plural word for God).
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
What is the Son's name according to the Holy Bible? Why the Son's name is "The Mighty God". It is also "The Everlasting Father". What? The Son is named the Father? Yes, the Son is named the Father.
Just as Jesus declared:
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
By the way, the Jews who were present fully understood that Jesus was declaring Himself to be God
(John 10:31-33) which is why they picked up stones to stone Him.
Just to occupy your attempt at harmonization a little bit more, see:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Who was God? The Bible says "The WORD was God"!
Okay. So? The Bible then proceeds to declare in the same chapter of John 1:
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,...
Hold it. The Word was God. The Word became flesh. Wow! Who can miss this. Sadly many do. But none with spiritual eyes in their head are able to miss it. The obvious conclusion is that God became flesh. And the Bible does tell us that elsewhere:
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,...
GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH! That agrees with John 1:1,14. It harmonizes also with Genesis 1:26 "let us make man in our image". It makes Isaiah 9:6 understandable (the child/Son to be born is called the Everlasting Father). It agrees with Hebrew 1:8, Unto the Son it is said, Thy throne O God... etc., etc.
The Bible has no actual contradictions within it. It is without error. Therefore all these Scriptures are absolutely true and faithful.
Regarding your set of Scriptures that indicate Christ subservient to the Father. Yeah, of course. When it comes to God's salvation plan, the Bible reveals a hierarchy within the Godhead. The Father sends the Son. The Son is obedient (unto death) of the Father's will in sending Him. The Son then sends the Spirit. The Spirit goes forth as sent by the Father/Son. None of this means that the Son is any less than the Father. Or the Spirit any less than the other two Persons of the Godhead. Remember, Jesus is equal with God:
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL WITH GOD:
He is One with the Father:
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
Go answer all of these verses with a Biblical explanation that harmonizes the whole of the Bible. Then come back and show it. If you cannot, and I am certain you cannot, then your conclusions are false. You may leave this discussion with EBF and go from us to avoid facing this fact. As sadly some people are in love with their own ideas and doctrines and proudly hold onto them despite Biblical rejection of them (that is actual rejection from the Bible, not me). But a true child of God will be humbled by God and submit to the truth of the Bible when faced with it.