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Living the Christian Life Magazine
Jesus’ usage of God’s name greatly angered the religious leaders, these Old Testament scholars knew exactly what he was saying—he was claiming to be God, the Creator of the universe. It is only this claim that would have brought the accusation of blasphemy
Jesus went further by claiming that God was His Father, He was claiming deity with God by declaring “I and the Father are One”. Not just in identification, but in essence and substance. The Scriptures remind us in Ephesians chapter 3:19 That ye may be filled with all the fullness of God; that is, that ye may be filled with spiritual grace and blessing to an extent corresponding to all the fullness of God.
There is a fullness of gracious attainment in every advanced believer that corresponds to all the fullness of God; every part of his nature is supplied from the Divine fountain, and, so far as a creature can, he presents the image of the Divine fullness. In the human nature of Christ this correspondence was perfect: "In him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;"
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:29-30)
The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God. (John 10:31-33).
There will be those who accept Jesus as a great teacher, yet are unwilling to call him God. As a Deist, we’ve seen that Thomas Jefferson had no problem accepting Jesus’ teachings on morals and ethics while denying his deity. The Scriptures clearly show us a different story.
When Jesus was arrested and brought before the Jewish legal Council, they questioned Him
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” (Mat.26:62-66)
It may be difficult to accept how anyone from a such an obscure village in Palestine could be God, To many it is easier to accept that He was a moral teacher, or a great Prophet. But the Scriptures remind us in 1 Corinthians Ch.15. That the very foundational truths of the New Testament Church lay in the fact that God has revealed Himself to us through Lord Jesus.That he came to liberate those bound in sin. That he died and rose again. He alone had the credentials to redeem mankind, Moral teacher or prophet could not accomplish that.
The claims of Jesus Christ force us to choose. “You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse, and Christianity is a great lie
You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher.
The Scriptures have left us with no other option, That He is indeed the Son of God; Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father.(John 14:8-9)
Did Jesus Actually claim to be God –
The Messiah Son of God