ARE YOU WITH JESUS
The vast majority of church goers have gotten used to the rudiments of church and have no desire to study to show themselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15). They trust that the person in the pulpit or teacher in the classroom, who has seminary training, knows and understands the truth of scripture. There is no need to objectively read the Bible. Everyone who professes to be Christian will say they believe in Jesus. However, the more difficult question to answer is "Do you believe Jesus’? Most do not know and/or understand what Jesus actually said.
When the Apostle John was inspired to write his gospel, he had a specific learning goal for the readers. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (20:31) The fact he wrote that at the end of his book has allowed men to mis-interpret verses that come before ot. Below are just a few of Jesus’ own words that are recorded in John. They bear witness that Jesus only identified His Father as God, and Himself as the Son.
As we read, let’s follow God’s directions and listen to (hear) His Son. (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35)
5:19 … The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do... 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 14:24 … the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me
The son cannot do or speak for Himself
because he is not the ultimate authority.
He not God. His Father, who is
giving the commandments, is God.
6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: … neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 17:11 …Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me…
Jesus does not decide who will be saved. God, his Father, does. Jesus is doing the will of His Father. He is not God.
9: 35, 37 …Dost thou believe on the Son of God?...37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
10:36 … I said, I am the Son of God? 11:4 “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of God. You will not find anywhere in scripture that Jesus identifies Himself as God. God also only calls Jesus His Son, not the second person of Himself.
10:30 I and my Father are one. 17:11 … I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Being one with God does not mean being the same ‘being’. That is how 10:30 is always mis-interpreted. If that were true, then all believers become God (17:11), or at a minimum, the same ‘being’. Being one means being on one accord, on the same page, working together, serving the same purpose, etc.
6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. (John 1:18, 1 John 4:12) 8:42 … for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (Galatians 4:4)
Because no man has seen the Father, Jesus and the Father cannot be the same ‘being’. Jesus is of God, the begotten Son (3:16). God sent Him into the world, not He Himself.
10:28 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; 14:28 … If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
One cannot be greater than oneself. Jesus and His Father are not the same ‘being’. The father is greater than the Son.
17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. sent. 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, … but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Jesus said His Father is THE ONLY TRUE GOD. Therefore, He does not claim to be God. He also said His Father is His God. Unless you will say God has a God, Jesus cannot be God.
Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23 tell us Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad”. After reading the words spoken by Jesus, there is one final question to be answered.
ARE YOU WITH JESUS?