Is Jesus Really God?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’”

Matthew 27:22

 

PONDER THIS

In Matthew 27, Jesus stood on trial before Pilate. In this account, we come face-to-face with the most present, pressing, and pertinent question ever asked: Is Jesus God as He claimed to be? If He is not, then He is a fraud, an imposter, and a deceiver. What we decide about Jesus will dictate eternity for each of us. Scripture gives us so much evidence that Jesus is God.

First, the attributes of God the Father are found in Jesus.

Throughout the Gospels, we find that Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament. He is described as God is described in Psalms and Isaiah: the King of Glory, the first and the last, the Lord of Hosts.

He is also shown to be God by the adoration He received.

Jesus also said He is God. In John 8:58, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” By quoting Exodus 3:14, Jesus claimed to be God.

Each of us has the opportunity, like Pilate, to decide what we do with Jesus. We can either accept Him or reject Him, love or despise Him, but we cannot be neutral. What do you believe about Jesus Christ: Will you crown Him or crucify Him? I love Him with all my heart. To explain Him is impossible; to ignore Him is disastrous; and to reject Him is fatal.

What have you decided to do with the claims of Jesus?

What difference does this decision make to your daily life?

PRACTICE THIS

Consider the areas of your life you have not given to God. Pray and surrender those things to Him today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

10 Things “Yahweh” Means

God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” (Exodus 3:15)

God’s name is almost always translated LORD (all caps) in the English Bible. But the Hebrew would be pronounced something like “Yahweh,” and is built on the word for “I am.”

So every time we hear the word Yahweh, or every time you see LORD in the English Bible, you should think: this is a proper name (like Peter or John) built out of the word for “I am” and reminding us each time that God absolutely is.

There are at least 10 things the name Yahweh, “I AM,” says about God:

1. He never had a beginning. Every child asks, “Who made God?” And every wise parent says, “Nobody made God. God simply is. And always was. No beginning.”

2. God will never end. If he did not come into being he cannot go out of being, because he is being.

3. God is absolute reality. There is no reality before him. There is no reality outside of him unless he wills it and makes it. He is all that was eternally. No space, no universe, no emptiness. Only God.

4. God is utterly independent. He depends on nothing to bring him into being or support him or counsel him or make him what he is.

5. Everything that is not God depends totally on God. The entire universe is utterly secondary. It came into being by God and stays in being moment by moment on God’s decision to keep it in being.

6. All the universe is by comparison to God as nothing. Contingent, dependent reality is to absolute, independent reality as a shadow to substance. As an echo to a thunderclap. All that we are amazed by in the world and in the galaxies is, compared to God, as nothing.

7. God is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He cannot be improved. He is not becoming anything. He is who he is.

8. God is the absolute standard of truth and goodness and beauty. There is no law-book to which he looks to know what is right. No almanac to establish facts. No guild to determine what is excellent or beautiful. He himself is the standard of what is right, what is true, what is beautiful.

9. God does whatever he pleases and it is always right and always beautiful and always in accord with truth. All reality that is outside of him he created and designed and governs as the absolute reality. So he is utterly free from any constraints that don’t originate from the counsel of his own will.

10. God is the most important and most valuable reality and person in the universe. He is more worthy of interest and attention and admiration and enjoyment than all other realities, including the entire universe.

John Piper 

Hand of the Lord/ Yahweh/ Jehovah/ Ail Shaddai/ Elohim

Job 12:9-10 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The hand of the Lord is with us. To build us up for His glory or to allow calamity to strike for the testing of our faith for His glory!

Yahweh or Jehovah: literally means "He who will be", occurs around 6,829 times in the Old Testament. Yahweh was revealed to Moses as God's new memorial name.

Ex.6:3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.

The difference between Ail Shaddai and Yahweh is that whereas the former only denotes past and present , the latter is prophetical, and therefore full of meaning concerning God's purpose and plan for salvation.

Ail: the Hebrew word"Ail" rendered as the word "God" and frequently combined with the word Shaddai,
thus meaning "God Almighty", occurs about 250 times in Scripture. It's primary meaning is "strength".

Shaddai: the plural form of the Hebrew word Shad, derived from the root word Shadad, to be strong or powerful; therefore it means "mighty ones". It appears 48 times in the Bible and is rendered "Almighty".

Elohim: Hebrew word translated "God" and appears about 2,600 times in Scripture. He is Creator and Sustainer off all that exists

We get a small peak at who God is through these names and their meanings. He is not just Creator but He is the first and last, meaning He has no beginning or no ending. He is "I Am"!
Ex.3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
Rev.1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
God is self-existent, He is eternal and unchangeable, He is incomprehensible, He is faithful, and there is none besides Him!
Lord Almighty, You alone have all power. The power to judge, to test, to pardon from Hell through Your Son, to show mercy, to have compassion, to create life and more, and to separate the spirit from the body. Lord, we are under Your care and we need You! Amen

The Four Gospels/ A Complete Testimony About Jesus

Why four Gospels? Lets explore that question! Each Gospel was intended to enlighten different audiences. The Gospels were written by different authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit. They all have a unique message, presented from a different perspective. Each one is suited to the intended audience. They have powerful answers to questions about who Jesus is! Taken together, the Gospels form a complete testimony about Jesus. I would like to thank John MacArthur for his wonderful teaching. His books are valuable teaching tools for diving deeper into God's Word.
The Gospel of Matthew was written for the Jews. It states the truth of Jesus being the Messiah/King who fulfils Old Testament prophecy and expectations. Matt.1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matt.16:16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matt.20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
The Gospel of Mark was written for the Romans/Gentiles. It states that Jesus is the Son of God. Mark demonstrates the humanity of Jesus and His servant heart. Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 8:27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
The Gospel of Luke was written for the Hellenists. It's truth states that Jesus is the perfect Son of Man who came to save and minister to all people through the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer. Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
The Gospel of John was written for the Greeks. It's truth states that Jesus is the fully divine Son of God in whom we should believe to receive eternal life, the I Am of God! John 20:31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
I Am: John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 10:7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Lord God, only You can change a heart. I pray for repentance to come to the lost through the teaching of Your precious Word. I am unworthy Lord to carry Your message, but by Your power and through Your forgiveness I am able. Amen

I AM

Is.43:10 You are my witness declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen so that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am He. Before me there was no God formed, and there will be none after.

What an amazing bible verse! God has no beginning and no end. He was and is! He is I Am. How wondrous and terrifying at the same time. I don’t think we can grasp this in our little human mind, to have no beginning or end. Lord, we bow humbly before you. We can not begin to understand You. Your majesty is so beyond our comprehension and your mystery is captivating. Lord, thank you for your word and the desire you have given us to search its meanings. Forgive us when we ignore you and are disobedient. Amen