Spiritual Lessons
I recently talked to a Jehovah Witness who told me that Jesus was a good man, even a co-creator of the universe, without sin... but, Jesus isn't God. She encouraged me to study the Bible and also the New World Translation and she ended our discussion saying that with an open mind, she knew I would be astonished to find that Jesus isn't God.
I know Jesus is God because I pray to Him and talk to Him as God every day. But the verses I showed her did not satisfy her. She told me that in the Greek these words meant something entirely different than how we perceive them in the English.
So I decided to do a little study. I am amazed how clear the Bible is about the subject. I thought I would share what I found with you. You never know when the Lord will bring someone in your life that needs to know that Jesus is Jehovah.
Jehovah
= Jesus
Stone
of Stumbling
The Bible says that the LORD will be a stone of stumbling. So does the New World Translation, (the Jehovah Witness' "bible"). "LORD" is always translated "Jehovah" in the NWT. The Jehovah Witnesses believe that Jehovah is God, but not Jesus.
Isaiah
8: 13-15 (KJV)
Sanctify
the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be
your dread.
And
he shall be your sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a
rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a
snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
And
many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be
snared, and be taken.
New
World Translation (NWT)
“Jehovah
of armies – he is the One whom you should treat as holy, and he
should be the object of your fear, and he should be the one causing
you to tremble.
And
he must become as a sacred place; but as a stone to striked against
and as a rock over which to stumble to both the houses of Israel, as
a trap and as a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
And
many among them will be certain to stumble and to fall and be broken,
and to be snared and caught.”
In the New Testament the Bible says that Jesus Christ is that stumbling stone. Incredibly, so does the New World Translation.
1
Peter 2: 6-8 (KJV)
“….acceptable
to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the
scripture, Behold, I lay Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious:
and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto
you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them with be
disobedient, the same is made the head of the corner,
And
a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which
stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed.”
(NWT)
“For
it is contained in Scripture: 'Look! I am laying in Zion a stone,
chosen, a foundation corner stone, precious; and no one exercising
faith in it will by any means come to disappointment.
It
is to you, therefore, that he is precious, because you are believers;
but to those not believing, 'identical stone that the builders
rejected has become the head of the corner',
and
'a stone of stumbling and a rock mass of offense.' These are
stumbling because they are disobedient to the word. To this very end
they were also appointed.”
The LORD God is a stumbling stone and Jesus is that stumbling stone. Therefore, Jesus is the LORD God.
Creator
(Jehovah = Jesus) Is. 44:24 and Col. 1:6
Only
Savior
The Bible says that there is no other savior other than the LORD. The NWT says the same thing.
Is.
43:11 (KJV)
I,
even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.
(NWT)
I
– I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior.
The Bible also claims that Jesus Christ is the Savior. So does the NWT!
1
Timothy 1:10 (KJV)
“But
is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to
light through the gospel:”
(NWT)
“but
now it has been made clearly evident through the manifestation of our
Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death but has shed light upon
life and incorruption through the good news.”
King
of kings (Jehovah = Jesus) Psalm 95:3 and 1 Timothy 6:14-15
Alpha
and Omega
The Bible says the LORD is the first and the last and besides him there is no God. Compare to the NWT.
Isaiah
44:6 (KJV)
“Thus
saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of
hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no
God.”
(NWT)
“This
is what Jehovah has said, the King of Israel and the Repurchaser of
him, Jehovah of armies, I am the first and I am the last, and besides
me there is no God.”
John then records for us that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. The NWT shows the same.
Rev.
1:7-18 (KJV)
Behold,
he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also
which pireced him: and all kindreds of the earch shall wail because
of him. Even so, Amen.
I
am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. I John,
who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the
kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called
Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I
was in the Spirit of the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great
voice, as of a trumpet,
Saying,
I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest,
write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches...And when I saw
him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me,
saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
I
am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore,
Amen; and have the keys to hell and of death.”
(NWT)
“Look!
He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those
who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earch will beat themselves
in grief because of him. Yes, Amen.
I
am the Alpha and the Omega, says Jehovah God, 'the one who is and who
was and who is coming, the Almighty.
I
John, your brother and a sharer with you in the tribulation, and
kindom and endurance in company with Jesus, came to be in the isle
that is called Patmos for speaking about God and bearing witness to
Jesus.
By
inspiration I came to be in the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a
strong voice like that of a trumpet,
saying:
'What you see write in a scroll and send it to the seven
congregations, in Ephesus and in Smyrna and in Sardis and in
Philadelphia and in Laodicea.... and when I saw him, I fell as dead
at his feet.
And
he laid his right hand upon me ad siad: Do not be fearful. I am the
First and the Last, and the living one, and I became dead, but, look!
I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys to death and of
Hades”.
Amazing....only
one son of man was ever pierced and lives now but was become dead and
now lives forever and ever....only one that claims to be our
Savior....and that is Jehovah God – Jesus!
Good
Shepherd (Jehovah = Jesus) Is. 40:10-11 and John 10:11
Every
Knee Bow
The Bible says that unto God every knee shall bow and every tongue swear. The NWT says the same.
Isaiah
45:23 (KJV)
“...for
I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word
is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That
unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”
(NWT)
“...for
I am God, an there is no one else. By my own self I have sworn –
out of my own mouth in righteousness the word has gone forth, so that
it will not return – that to me every knee will bend down, every
tongue will swear,”
Then in the New Testament it later says that every knee shall bow to Jesus and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The NWT says the same thing.
Phil.
2:8-11 (KJV)
“...and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore
God hath highly exalted him, an give him a name which is above every
name:
That
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things of heaven and
things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.”
(NWT)
“...and
became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake. For
this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and
kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in
the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those
on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the
Father.”
Judge
(Jehovah = Jesus) Is. 24:20-21 and Col. 1:17
Reigning
The Bible says that the LORD of hosts shall reign. Compare to NWT.
Isaiah
24:23 (KJV)
“Then
the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, and when the LORD
of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his
ancients gloriously.”
(NWT)
“And
the full moon has become abashed, and the glowing [sun] has become
ashamed, for Jehovah of armies has become king in Mount Zion and in
Jerusalem and in front of his elderly men with glory.”
The Bible also claims that it is the Son of man that shall come in his glory. The Son of man is Jesus.
Matt.
25:31 (KJV)
“When
the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:”
(NWT)
“When
the Son of man arrives in glory, and all the angles with him, then he
will sit down on his glorious throne.”
Who
Says Jesus Christ is God?
David
called Jesus God 
Matthew
22:43-45
“He
saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make
thine enemies thy footstool?
If
David then call him Lord, how is he his son?”
Looked
this “Lord” up in Greek and the Strong's Concordance says
–
Lord: (2962) kurios, koo-ree-os; from
kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, ie. (as noun) controller; by
impl. Mr. (as a respectful title): – God,
Lord, master, Sir.
So
this “Lord” could be a title only, although by implication and
context of the verse it would seem that as a supreme authority it
refers to God.
Isaiah
called Jesus 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.”
Here
the Bible just comes out and says Christ the son of God is the mighty
God, the everlasting Father. Also look at –
Isaiah
7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a
virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel.”
Immanuel
is Hebrew meaning "with us (is) God" (Strongs Concordance 6005).
"Lord" in this verse is the Hebrew word Adonay, ad-o-noy'; the
Lord – used as a proper name of God only. (Stongs Concordance 136).
So God himself gave a sign, a virgin conceiving and bearing a son
who was God (with us).
Jeremiah
called Christ God 
Jeremiah
23:5-6 “Behold the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise
unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper,
and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days
Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his
name whereby he shall be called, the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Both
the LORD's in this verse come from the Hebrew word Yehovah,
yeh-ho-vaw'; (the)
self-Existent or Eternal, Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: –
Jehovah the Lord. (Strongs 3068)
Matthew
called Christ God.
Matthew
1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a
son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted
is, God with us.”
Christ
called Himself God.
John
10:30 “I and my Father are one.”
One
in this verse cannot mean in agreement or will because the Greek word
“one” in this verse is – heis, hice. A
primary numeral; man,one (another), only, other, some. (Strongs 1520) The same Greek word used in verses
(John 6:8, John 7:50,John
8:9,John 11:50,John 12:2). It doesn't mean one will, it means one
and the same person.
Revelation
1:5-8 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the
first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth,
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
and hath made us kings and priets unto God and his Father; to him be
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold he cometh with
clouds; and every eye shall
see
him, and they also which perceived him: and all kindreds of the earth
shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was,
and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Here
Lord Jesus calls himself the beginning and the ending, the Almighty.
Lord here is the same “Lord” David used [Lord: (2962) kurios,
koo-ree-os; from kuros
(supremacy); supreme in authority, ie. (as noun) controller; by impl.
Mr. (as a respectful title): – God, Lord, master, Sir.].
“Almighty”
here is the Greek word – pantokrator, pan-tok-rat'-ore;
the all-ruling, ie. God (as
absolute and universal sovereign): – Almighty, Omnipotent.
The
angels called Christ God. 
Luke
2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.”
Lord:
(2962) kurios, koo-ree-os; from
kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, ie. (as noun) controller; by
impl. Mr. (as a respectful title): – God, Lord, master, Sir.
John
called Christ God.
John
1:1-3+14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
an the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All
things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that
was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dewlt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.”
“Word”
in these verses comes from the Greek word “logos” – the Divine
Expression (ie Christ). (Strongs 3056) The Word was God.
God
in verse 1 is the Greek word “theos” – the supreme Divinity, a
magistrate; exceeding, God. The Word = Christ. Christ = God.
(Strongs 2316)
The
same Greek word is used for God in 1 John 3:16
“Hereby
perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Who
laid his life down for us? God did – by being crucified. Christ
is God.
It
is also the same Greek word that is used for 1 John 5:20
“And
we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him
that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God,
and eternal life.”
Jesus
Christ is “theos” – the supreme Divinity, God.
The
Blind man called Jesus God. 
John
9:35-38
“...Jesus
heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said
unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
He
answered and said, Who is he, Lord that I might believe on him?
And
Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that
talketh with thee.
And
he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.”
Lord
here is the Greek word kurios, koo-ree-os; from
kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, ie. (as noun) controller; by
impl. Mr. (as a respectful title): – God, Lord, master, Sir.
(Strongs 2962)
The
blind man called him God and worshiped Jesus and Jesus accepted the
worship.
The
angels refuse to accept worship (Rev. 19:10).
The
Apostles refuse to accept worship (Acts 14:11-15).
Jesus
accepted worship because He is the Almighty God, the Creator of all
things, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the Ending.
The
wise men worshiped him. (Matt. 2:11)
A
leper worshiped him. (Matt. 8:2)
A
certain young ruler worshiped him. (Matt. 9:18)
The
Disciples worshiped him. (Matt. 14:33 and Luke 24:52).
A
Canaanite woman worshiped him (Matt. 15:26)
The
mother of Zebedee's children with her sons worshiped him (Matt.
20:20)
The mad man of Gadara worshiped him (Mark 5:6.)
The
angels worship him. (Hebrews 1:6)
Every
tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and shall worship him.
(Phil. 2:9-1)
Jehovah
makes it very clear that only the Lord God is to be worshiped. Jesus
is worshiped and he never stops them from worshiping him. Because
Jesus is God. (Matt. 4:10; Exodus 34:14;Is.42:8)
Thomas
called Jesus God 
John
20:26+28
“...then
came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said,
Peace be unto you. ...And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord
and my God.”
Don't
even need to look into the Greek or Hebrew for that one!
Peter
called Jesus God.
Acts
10:36 “....Jesus Christ: (he is the Lord of all).”
Lord:
(2962) kurios, koo-ree-os; from
kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, ie. (as noun) controller; by
impl. Mr. (as a respectful title): – God, Lord, master, Sir.
Paul
called Jesus God 
Acts
20:28 “...the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
1
Timothy 3:16 “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.”
Titus
2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of
the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
Because
the Old Testament proclaimed Jesus is God, because Jesus fulfills
these promises in the New Testament, because He was proclaimed God at
His birth and because Jesus claimed to be God and accepted worship I
believe Jesus is God.
"Jesus saith... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
John 14:6
