Christ's Divinity
Stephen Whitney
Psalm 2
Christianity is distinct from other religions because it we believe that Jesus Christ was not just a prophet sent from God, but is God himself because he has the same divine nature as God the Father. This mystery has caused people to misunderstand the character, nature and person of Christ throughout church history.
In the fourth-century a pastor named Arius in Alexandria, Egypt challenged the belief which Christians held that Jesus was divine. He began teaching that Jesus was not divine, but that he had a different nature than God and therefore was not eternal.
To Arius Jesus was a lesser being or half-God, divine but not deity. He was not the eternal and changeless Creator of the world. He was a created Being - the first created Being and the greatest, but nevertheless created.
He explained his position to the bishop Eusebius when he wrote, ''The Son has a beginning, but . . . God is without beginning.''
Heresy continues This heresy is still believed by the Jehovah's Witnesses who teach that Jesus Christ was the first creation of God. They believe that the archangel Michael was the only-begotten Son of God who became Jesus Christ.
This heresy is still believed by Mormons who teach that Jesus Christ was the firstborn of the spirit children of God. By his obedience and devotion, he attained to the pinnacle of intelligence which ranked him as a god. He was the executive in the work of creation, but not the eternal God.
Why does it matter The deity of Christ matters because it is at the heart of our faith. 1. If Jesus was just a prophet, he would be a sinner and would have to die for his own sins and would not be able to be our substitute.
2. Scripture states that Jesus was in the beginning with God and was equal with God the Father.
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
3. Scripture states that Jesus create ...
Stephen Whitney
Psalm 2
Christianity is distinct from other religions because it we believe that Jesus Christ was not just a prophet sent from God, but is God himself because he has the same divine nature as God the Father. This mystery has caused people to misunderstand the character, nature and person of Christ throughout church history.
In the fourth-century a pastor named Arius in Alexandria, Egypt challenged the belief which Christians held that Jesus was divine. He began teaching that Jesus was not divine, but that he had a different nature than God and therefore was not eternal.
To Arius Jesus was a lesser being or half-God, divine but not deity. He was not the eternal and changeless Creator of the world. He was a created Being - the first created Being and the greatest, but nevertheless created.
He explained his position to the bishop Eusebius when he wrote, ''The Son has a beginning, but . . . God is without beginning.''
Heresy continues This heresy is still believed by the Jehovah's Witnesses who teach that Jesus Christ was the first creation of God. They believe that the archangel Michael was the only-begotten Son of God who became Jesus Christ.
This heresy is still believed by Mormons who teach that Jesus Christ was the firstborn of the spirit children of God. By his obedience and devotion, he attained to the pinnacle of intelligence which ranked him as a god. He was the executive in the work of creation, but not the eternal God.
Why does it matter The deity of Christ matters because it is at the heart of our faith. 1. If Jesus was just a prophet, he would be a sinner and would have to die for his own sins and would not be able to be our substitute.
2. Scripture states that Jesus was in the beginning with God and was equal with God the Father.
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
3. Scripture states that Jesus create ...
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