Interesting Questions-37

"Is Jesus God and Savior?"
(Deuteronomy 6:4, Timothy 3:16, Titus 2:13, Matthew 4:7)

Letter to the Editor:
PASUGO, November-December 1993, p.3

I KNOW THAT every  now and then you scan the Holy Bible,  but unfortunately you do not understand what the Scriptures mean, like Deuteronomy 6:4  where it is stated that Jesus is our one and only true God. You are only referring to your very own verses.

There are other verses clearly stating that Jesus is the one and only true God, such as the following;

1. 1 Timothy 3:16  clearly shows God was manifested in the flesh. Now, who was manifested in the flesh? Of course, none other than Jesus Christ. He considered Himself as a man just to fulfill His promise to save the world from sins.   But in Him the whole fullness of  deity dwells bodily (Colossians 2:9).  So He is the God who was manifested in the flesh.

2.  Titus 2:13 also clearly states that Jesus is our great God and our Savior.  What are you looking for? Jesus is our God and our Savior. No one  can save us except Jesus Christ.

3. In Matthew 4:7 Jesus revealed himself to be God when He said to Satan   ".....you shall not tempt the Lord your God."   Did Jesus He to Satan?   Absolutely no!   Jesus  is perfect. See?   With these few; verses alone I can assure you and it is clear that Jesus Christ is our God.

Junjun Lanoy
Surigao del Norte, Philippines

 

Editor's reply:

IT IS NOT TRUE that we only scan the  Holy Bible every now and then. We consult it on all matters pertaining to the things of God. And it is not true that we refer to our very own verses. We have none of our own, nay, not even a translation of the Bible.

IT IS NOT TRUE that Deuteronomy 6:4 states that Jesus is our one and only true God. Deuteronomy 6:4 states:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! (NKJV)

There is no mention here of Jesus. The God of Israel is the God of Jacob and Abraham and Isaac (cf. Exodus 3:6) and the God of Abraham is the Almighty , God (Gen. 17:1). 

Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. (Exodus 3:6, NKJV)

And Moses also said this to the people of Israel:

Is this the way you repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people?  Isn't he your Father who created you? Has he not made you and established you? (Deuteronomy 32:6, NLT)

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.

This Almighty God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Eph.l:3; 1 Pet.l:3)     

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Eph. 1:3, NKJV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3, NKJV)

Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ is not God Himself.    The Father who is introduced to us by our Lord Jesus Himself is the only true God (cf. Jn. 17:1-3).    Jesus Christ our Lord is the Son of the one and only true God.

 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,    And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:1,3, NKJV)

__________

 

IT IS NOT TRUE that just because God was manifested in the flesh as stated in I Timothy 3:16, the flesh in whom He is manifested is God also.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Tim. 3:16, KJV)

The same verse in another version of the Bible for clarity:

Here is the great mystery of our religion:  Christ came as a human. The spirit proved that he pleased  God, and he was seen by angels. Christ was preached to the nations. People in this world put their faith in him, and he was taken up to glory. (1 Tim. 3:16, Contemporary English Version)

God is manifested in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ because it is God Himself who works in Jesus Christ (cf. Jn. 14:10).

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (John 14:10, NKJV)

Of course Colossians 2:9 states that "in him duelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" but such statement does not say Christ is God just because the fullness of the God-head dwells in Him.  The dwelling does not become the dweller.

_____________

 

IT IS NOT TRUE that Titus 2:13 states that the terms "our great God and our Savior" refers only to one.

looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:13, NKJV)

The expression "great God" refers to God the Father and the expression "our Savior" refers to Jesus Christ as it is stated in Titus 1:4. 

To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 1:4, NKJV)

Thus, the Father is different from the Son; God is different from His Son Jesus Christ.

_____________________

 

IT IS NOT TRUE that Jesus was referring to Himself in Matthew 4:7, when He said  "..... you shall not tempt the Lord your God" .

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God. (Matthew 4:7, NKJV)

The only true God that Jesus recognizes is the Father (Jn. 17:1, 3).

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify you. . . . . An this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent. (John 17:1, 3, NKJV) 

 Thus, the Lord  God mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 4:7 is not Himself but His Father, the only true God.

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Note: Verses are added for clarity. Emphasis ours.

Bible Study Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question you have in mind.