Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: John 1:1 (was Re: Is Jesus God!!) Message-ID: Date: 9 Mar 91 05:49:35 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 82 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I have read on this topic a few articles and I don't know how much I have missed. I would like to bring up a few things out of the Bible. Please accept my apology if what I post has already been discussed. It seems there has been alot of discussion on John 1:1 whether or not the absence of an indefinite or definite article in front of theos means that Jesus was God or "a god". It also appears that there is agreement that the Son and the Father are distinct so that is not the issue. I have found so much in the Bible beyond this verse that reaffirms who our precious Lord Jesus is. First of all in 1 John 1:2, Jesus is referred to as the life and the "eternal life" identifying Him with life itself. In John 17:3 Jesus said that eternal life was knowing not only His Father but also He Himself. This theme of Jesus being venerated and esteemed just as the Father, reoccurs. He is found to be so worthy of praise. In John 5:23 it is written that all are to honor the Son just as they honor the Father and that He who does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father. This is seen throughout the Scripture. In Matthew 2:11, the Magi worshipped Jesus. In Matthew 14:33 the disciples worshipped Jesus in the boat. In Matthew 28:9, the two Marys met the resurrected Lord and Savior and fell down, clasped His feet, and worshipped Him. In Luke 24:52, the disciples watched as the risen Lord ascended into heaven and the worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy! In the book of Revelation His honor is gloriously seen. Such great honor was found given to *no one* except for His Father. He was the only one worthy of opening the scroll with the seven seals. His worthiness was so great that the greatest in heaven fall down before Him: "And when He [the Lamb, Jesus] had taken it [the scroll], the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb. ...And they sange a new song: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.'" [Revelation 5:8-9] And even more, thousands and thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand also worship Him in heaven: "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: 'Worth is the Lamb, who was slain, to recieve power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'" [Revelation 5:11-12] It becomes so clear that Jesus is found worthy by multitudes and multitudes to receive honor, glory, and praise, just like the Father. If He were not God to all these, along with the Father, this would be unheard of! In fact, everyone will one day worship Jesus, saved and unsaved, for it is written that "God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." [Philippians 2:9-11] Even the prophet Daniel had this vision in Daniel 7:13-14 where he saw one like the son of man coming in the clouds and every nation, kindred, and tongue worshipped Him. It is seen that He is so exalted that He is worthy of worship, that which is only reserved for God! Throughout Paul's epistles, he starts out many by saying "grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." You see just as grace and peace come from the awesome heavenly Father, so also grace and peace come from His Son Jesus. So Jesus is a source of grace and peace. In John 1:4 it says that in Jesus is life. In John 5:22 it says that Jesus is the judge of all men. It is Jesus that will judge us. Everyone shall stand before the judgement seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) where He shall judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1). Yet who can judge all men except for God Himself. You see just as the Father is God, so the Son is God, and because of their perfect love relationship, they are perfectly one. From my personal studies of the Bible, I have found so much supporting Scripture testifying to both the Father and the Son falling under the title of Almighty God. I have so much more to share, enough to fill 5 more postings this size. But for the sake of brevity, I will stop here. I hope this is an encouragement, John Emery emery@tc.fluke.COM