To the Reader: This article is about the price that God paid for us through his son Jesus Christ. And because it only touches a certain aspect of the life Jesus, one must read and study the bible to fully understand the price that was paid for our sins. And a good place to start would be in the book of John (especially the first opening chapter). Another few places would be Paul the apostle’s letter to the Colossians (especially chapter 1:13-20) as well as the first three chapters of Hebrews. And of course, there are plenty more passages to read to get the big picture of the life and mission of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I encourage you my fellow Christian to study the word of God for yourself and: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB20) Amen.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

God loves us and desires that none should perish, for he said: “Say to them: As I live, says the Lord Jehovah, I have no delight in the death of the wicked, except in the turning of the wicked from his way, and so to live. Turn, turn from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11 MKJV) We see the same thing in the New Testament where we read: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 WEB)

Now, from what we read above, couldn’t we all agree that God wants us to repent and thus be saved? However, we know that the old covenant couldn’t make this happen. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Therefore when He comes into the world, He says, ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You have prepared a body for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have had no pleasure. Then I said, Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me) to do Your will, O God’.” (Hebrews 10:4-7 MKJV, Psalm 40:7-8)

So, who is that one “who knew no sin” and was recorded “in the volume of the book”? Wasn’t it Jesus Christ who took upon himself the sins of the world? “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

• For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9 NKJV)

“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40 ESV)

From what we can gather from that passage above, Jesus in a sense was saying: “For as Jonah was. …so shall the Son of man be.” Now, to see what it was like for Jesus in the heart of the earth, we need to see how it was for Jonah himself. “Then Jonah prayed unto Jehovah his God out of the fish's belly. And he said, I called by reason of mine affliction unto Jehovah, And he answered me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.” (Jonah 2:1-2 ASV, KJV)

So, we can see that Jonah was experiencing “affliction” and quoted it as being in “the belly of hell.” And let’s remember that Jesus called Jonah a prophet, for we read: “But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah’.” (Matthew 12:39 ESV) Now, doesn’t this clearly show us that Jesus did suffer affliction in the heart of the earth? Why else would he compare it in such a way?

Now, in the book of Hebrew, we read that Jesus was pleading that his soul would not be left in hell. “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 5:7-10)

So, we read that Jesus was pleading to God to “save him from death.” Also, it says that he “was heard in that he feared.” Now, we know that this wasn’t concerning his physical death because he was crucified and put to death. Therefore, wouldn’t Jesus be asking the Father that his soul would not be left in hell? For Peter said: “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” (Acts 2:23-24 NKJV) So again, Jesus was “loosed” (saved) from “the pains of death.” Now, what pains are there in death other than the fires of hell itself? Therefore, Jesus was released from the torments of hell after his three days and night there.

Now, from the account of the rich man and Lazarus, we can see that hell is a place of torment. For we read concerning the rich man: “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:23-24) Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s consider how much Jesus suffered for us. For he took upon himself the agony and torments that was do all of us, for “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6 ASV)

Below are some video on Jesus suffering in hell:

• Jesus Became Sin for Use
• Jesus Suffered Torment in Hell

Below is a passage concerning what was already mentioned above:

• I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. ... He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Acts 2:25-27, 31- 32)

“Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43)

This passage above poses a few problems. For it appears as if Jesus was promising the repentant thief that they would be together in paradise that literal day. But we know that Jesus said he had to spend three days and nights in the heart of the earth. So, how do we make sense of all this? Well, let’s first keep in mind that there were no commas in the original Greek manuscripts. Therefore, translators both of the past and the present placed these commas where it seemed best. So, concerning that passage above, the translators of the King James Bible chose to put the comma before the word “today.” Now, I do believe that these translators were gifted in what they did. And I believe the KJV bible (as far as word for word translation goes), is one of the best translations out there. However, being human like the rest of us, these translators were not immune to certain view and biases of their day. Therefore, it wouldn’t be uncommon for some of these views to show up in their work as well.

Now, I have to admit that there are many translations that follow the comma placement of the KJV bible. However, there are those few that have the comma after the word “today.” Thus, this same passage would read: “Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 REV) This makes more sense, because we have Jesus not promising the thief that they would be together that literal day, but at some time in the future. E. W. Bullinger, a commentator of the Companion Bible wrote: “say to you, today = ‘I say to thee today.’ Today; connect this with ‘I say’ to emphasize the solemnity of the occasion; not with “shalt thou be.” So, Mr. Bullinger admits that it should read: “Truly I say to you today.” So, in a sense, Jesus was telling the thief to take heed to what I’m about to say to you. And that would be the assurance that they will be together in the future.

So, even though a misplaced comma would normally be a minor thing, it can become a major one when it comes to such passages as above. So, it’s important that you have more than one translation within your library. This would especially be true when those red flags pop up in your head telling you that something doesn’t make sense. Therefore, it’s important that we rely on the Holy Spirit to help us navigate throughout the scriptures. So, let’s always seek God’s help, even when it comes to something as simple as a comma placement.

Below are more translations that chose to place the comma after the word today:

• The Concordant Literal New Testament reads - “Verily, to you am I saying today, with me shall you be in paradise.”
• The Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible reads - “Verily I say unto thee this day: with me shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
• The Peshitta Aramaic English New Testament (by Andrew Gabriel Roth) reads - “Y’shua said to him, “Truly I say to you today: You will be with me in paradise”
• The Revised English Version reads - “And he said to him, ‘Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in the Paradise’.

Below are different passages found in the King James bible which uses the word “today” to help emphasize what’s being said:

• “I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.” (Deuteronomy 30:18) Note: So, did they all perish that literal day? No, they didn’t.
• “Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all.” (Acts 20:26) Note: So, was Paul guilty of their blood before he mentioned this to them? No, of course he wasn’t.

So, wouldn’t these two other passages found in the KJV bible be a witness against the translator’s own comma error in Luke 23:43? You be the judge.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30 ASV)

According to that passage above, what was finished? Was our forgiveness and redemption totally completed at that moment? For we must remember that Jesus said “It is finished” before he died and rose from the dead. So, to get a better understanding of what Jesus meant, we need to consider a few other bible verses as well. The first is: “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25) The next is: “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-18 ESV) So, according to apostle Paul, the death and resurrection of Jesus is crucial for our redemption.

Now, let’s examine another passage which may help us to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “It is finished.” For in John 17:3-4 we have Jesus praying to God the Father saying: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” So, we see that Jesus said, “: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” Therefore, Jesus came not only to reveal that he was our promised Messiah, the only way to the Father, but also to let us know who “the only true God” is, which we know is God the Father himself. So, the completion of our redemption was not completed until after our Lord’s death and resurrection as Paul the apostle said above.

“Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46 ESV)

Jesus knew that he must spend three days and nights in the heart of the earth. Therefore, Jesus was simply trusting his soul in the hands of God his Father. For we read: “I have set Jehovah always before Me; because He is at My right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore My heart is glad, and My glory rejoices; My flesh also shall rest in hope; For You will not leave My soul in hell; You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” (Psalms 16:8-10 MKJV) So, Jesus was trusting that God the Father would not leave his soul in hell nor allow his body to decay in the grave. Therefore, he committed himself into the hands of God his Father. And according to scripture, God raise Jesus up and deliver him from the pains of death. Thank God for that.

And it’s the same for us today. For we who are in Christ have put our trust in God that he will bring us into paradise. “For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord. So keep comforting one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 NWT)

Yes, Jesus Christ shall return for us Christians who have put our faith and hope in him. This would be true whether we’re dead or alive. For if dead, we shall be in the company of the dead in Christ who shall be returning with him. And if we are alive, we shall be caught up with them in heaven. Either way it’s a win-win situation for us who have put our hope and faith in God’s mercy.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16 the Lord: That is, Jesus Christ will descend from heaven: A commanding call: Or “a shout of command.” The Greek word used here occurs only once in the Christian Greek Scriptures. It could refer to an order given to an army to attack or to a command issued by a king. The Lord Jesus … descends from heaven to make this commanding call to awaken from the sleep … those who are dead in union with Christ, that is, his spirit-anointed followers. The Scriptures show elsewhere that it is Jesus’ “voice” that the dead will hear (Joh 5:25) and that “in the Christ all will be made alive … The Scriptures show elsewhere that it is Jesus’ “voice” that the dead will hear (see John 5:25) and that “in the Christ all will be made alive (see 1 Corinthians 15:22)” – Taken from the NWT Study Edition.

“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)

My fellow Christians, let’s not come to the false notion that Jesus (after his death) descended into an earthly paradise called “Abrahams Bosom.” (Luke 16:22) For there are those who believe that Jesus was hanging out with the departed saints, some who would been there for a few hundred years. And if that was true, why was Jesus so glad that get out of there? (see Psalm 16:10 and Acts 2:27) For it says above that Jesus was praying earnestly, asking the God his Father “if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” So, would this agonizing prayer be only for the cross? Because we got to remember that there were many others that suffered that same fate. So instead, wouldn’t this agonizing prayer be mainly for his three days and nights of torment in hell? I do believe so my friends.

Now, where in the bible does it mention a place called Paradise? Well, the first is: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7) So, where is the “paradise of God?” “Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-2 RSV)

Next, we have Paul the apostle’s own testimony saying, “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4) So, according to the apostle Paul, there is a paradise that’s in the third heaven. Therefore, these scriptures are a witness showing that paradise is not in some make-believe underworld inside the earth. For the only thing that’s inside the earth is hell fire itself.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Okay, you may be asking: “where is Abraham and the rest of the departed Saints of God?” Well, let’s first notice that it says we’re surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses” in that passage above. Also, it says in Hebrews 11:13 that those witnesses are they who have died in faith. So, according to God’s word, it sounds like they are quite alive and we’re surrounded by them as well, don’t you think? We can see this also to be true from the account of the rich man and Lazarus. For after the rich man died, he was aware of his surroundings, feeling the torments of hell. And while looking up, his eyes were opened to see the realm of the saints, where Lazarus was, being comforted in the arms of Abraham. Let’s also remember that Moses and Elisha appeared before Peter, James, and John when Jesus was transfigured before them. Also, Jesus himself said to the Sadducees: “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:31-32)

So, even though a person’s body may be buried in the ground, their soul would still be alive. This is true whether one is up in the realm of the saints or being tormented in the flames of hell below. (Matthew 17:1-4)

“There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz'arus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Laz’arus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz’arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame’.” (Luke 16:19-24 RSV)

Now, you may be thinking, “didn’t the rich man in hell talk to Abraham afar off.” Well, even though this is true, that still doesn’t prove that there’s some chamber called “Abraham's Bosom” inside the earth. So, let’s first consider what that passage says above. First, we must realize that the rich man has never seen Abraham before. So, how could he have recognized and even communicated with him in the distance among a huge mass of God’s saints? That would be like you sitting in a packed stadium recognizing and communicating with a well-known radio host on the other side of the field whom you never seen before.

So, on the contrary, wouldn’t this be a vision of some sort just as it was with Stephen who was looking up and seeing Jesus standing on the right hand of God? (Acts 7:55-56) So, that great gulf could have been simply the distance between hell inside the earth and the Saintly realm of the dead somewhere above it. Again, I encourage you to do some studying on your own my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. For we must beware of the doctrines and teaching of man that doesn’t line up with scripture itself. So, from all which we just read, shouldn’t we be able to conclude that those who are dead are quite alive?

• But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55-56 ESV)

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11)

According to that passage above, we can clearly see that it’s the blood that makes an atonement for our souls. Also in the New Testament, John the apostle said: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) So, we see that the blood of Christ is a vital part of our atonement for sin. For without it, there would be no forgiveness possible. Therefore, we shouldn’t come to the wrong conclusion that our atonement for sin has nothing to do with the shed blood of Christ.

Now that being said, we must also realize that all sacrifices had to be done according to procedure. For not only was the blood of the lamb to be shed and applied for the remission of sins, but the lamb also had to go through the fire. One was not to be done without the other. And if by chance a step was missed or neglected, would God even regard it? For God said: “And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” (Exodus 12:7-8)

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:19-20)

Now, during communion, don’t we receive both the bread and wine which represents the body and blood of Christ? For our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was offered up as a sacrificial lamb. And we know that the sacrificial lamb was both slain and brought through the fire as well. So, in a sense, wouldn’t Jesus Christ truly became our Passover Lamb who was sacrificed on our behalf? For his blood was shed on the cross and he had to descend in to hell itself. Therefore, we should always thank God for his great mercy towards us sinners who are saved. Therefore, even though the blood of the lamb was the atonement for their sins, they still had to partake of its flesh which went through the flames of fire. So, in a similar way, the blood of Christ does atone for our sins. However, he still had to endure three days and nights in hell on our behalf in order for the atonement to be fully completed.

Below are a few scriptures pertaining to the blood of Christ:

• But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
• How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
• Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:18-21)

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6 ASV)

As mentioned earlier, Luke chapter 16 shows us that hell is a temporary abode for all who have died in their sins. So, even though Christ’s blood was a vital part of our atonement for sins, he still had to suffer the wrath of God that was do for all sinners. And let’s remember that God is not a respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) So, because our Savior Jesus died a sinner’s death, he had to also suffer a sinner’s death: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Yes, he had to endure three days and night in hell itself.

Now, it’s true that we’re not all at the same level of faith. For there are some who have a limited knowledge and there are some who have a much deeper knowledge as well. However, both are saved by God’s grace poured out upon us. And let’s remember what Paul the apostle said to the Corinthian believers: “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.” (Romans 14:1 ESV) So, if one only has the knowledge that Jesus died on the cross, was buried and then rose the third day for our redemption, this person still would be saved. For he, believing in the saving blood of Jesus Christ, would have eternal life even though he has a limited knowledge of the gospel. Therefore, it’s a daily learning process for us who are in Christ Jesus. For he said: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV)

So, knowing that the Holy Spirit lives in us and teaches us all things, lets dig deeper into God’s word to know all his truths. (2 Timothy 2:15) For it should be our desire to truly recognize and see everything that God did for us who are saved. Therefore, we must not only rely on others to teach us, but to rely on God’s Holy Spirit as well. For Jesus said: “take my yoke upon you and learn of me.” (Matthew 11:29) He also said: “It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me.” (John 6:45 ASV) And let’s also remember what John the apostle said: “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1 John 2:27) 

Therefore, we must all: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

May God bless you as you seek to do his will. Amen.

(Note: Bible text other than the King James Bible have been noted below)

• REV = The REV® (Revised English Version®) copyright © 2014 by Spirit & Truth Fellowship International, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• RSV = Revised Standard Version containing the Old and New Testaments, translated from the original tongues: being the version set forth A.D. 1611, revised A.D. 1881-1885 and A.D. 1901: compared with the most ancient authorities and revised A.D. 1946-52. — 2nd ed. of New Testament A.D. 1971. Availability: Freely available for non-commercial use provided that this header is included in its entirety with any copy distributed.
• ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• NKJV = New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
• ASV = Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.
• NASB20 = New American Standard Bible 2020 Copyright (c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
• WEB = The Webster Bible was translated by Noah Webster in 1833 in order to bring the language of the bible up to date. This version of the Bible is in the public domai
• MKJV = The Modern King James Version 1962 Copyright © by Jay P. Green. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. 

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To the Reader: This article concerns Jesus Christ the Son of God, who came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3-4). And we know that he did this not only to show us who God the Father is, but to reveal that he is the promised Messiah sent from God. Now, there may be some who oppose a few things in this article. However, by diligently studying the word of God, we can put away any watered-down teachings that’s being taught in some churches today. Yes, these some brothers may mean well in what they’re teaching. But just following what others have said instead of the leading of the Holy Spirit can lead to some error. Therefore, open the bible and read it for yourselves and: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB20) Amen.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 NASB95)

Before coming to this earth as a man, Jesus existed in the form of God (See Thayer’s Lexicon notes below) and took part in the act of creation a well. We see this to be true where we read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3 ESV) We see this also to be true in the first chapter of the book of Genesis. For we first read: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Next, we read: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) Yes, God said: “Let us” showing that there was more than one agent in the act of creation.

Below is Thayer’s Greek Lexicon definitions on the two Greek words: μορφῇ (the form) and ἐκένωσεν (emptied):

• μορφῇ (the form) = who, although (formerly when he was (λόγος ἄσαρκος) [the Logos who was without flesh] “he bore the form (in which he appeared to the inhabitants of heaven) of God (the sovereign, opposed to μορφή δούλου), yet did not think that this equality with God was to be eagerly clung to or retained (see ἁρπαγμός, 2), but emptied himself of it (see κενόω) so as to assume the form of a servant, in that he became like unto men (for angels also are δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ, Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8f) and was found in fashion as a man” ἐκένωσεν (emptied) = κενόω, κενῷ: (future κενώσω, 1 Corinthians 9:15 L text T Tr WH); 1 aorist ἐκενωσα; passive, perfect κεκνωμαι; 1 aorist ἐκενωθην; 1. to empty, make empty: ἑαυτόν ἐκένωσε, namely, τοῦ εἶναι ἴσα Θεῷ or τῆς μορφῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ, i. e. he laid aside equality with or the form of God (said of Christ), Philippians 2:7 (see a fuller exposition of this passage in μορϕή).

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Now, the “Word” who became flesh and blood is none other than Jesus Christ himself. And while being the “Word,” he voluntarily emptied himself of who he was in heaven and became a human being just like us with all of life’s limitations. This we also know was God’s will and plan for him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

So, it was necessary for Jesus Christ to come in the flesh. For he came to show us not only who God is, but to reveal that he (Jesus) is our promised Messiah and Redeemer. For we first read: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) We this also to be true in one of John the apostle’s letters to the church where we read: “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20 NIV) So, John said that Jesus came to reveal “him who is true" and “the only true God” which are both in reference to the God the Father. And the only way we can come to him is through his Son, Jesus Christ. For: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Yes, Jesus is our promised Messiah. Amen.

For: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:7-10 ESV) So, we see that Jesus himself was praying and crying out to God the Father to save him from the grips of hell itself. For this wasn’t concerning his physical death, because he did die. Therefore, Jesus was crying out that his soul would not be left in the torments of hell. (See Acts 2:23-32)

“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17)

In that passage above, Jesus was equating himself with us by saying that God the Father was both his God and ours. We see this also to be true concerning those who followed him, for we read: “Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:47-50)

We can see the same thing happening in Hebrews: “For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the congregation will I sing thy praise.” (Hebrews 2:11-12). Also, let’s take heed to what Paul the apostle said: “yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Corinthians 8:6 ESV) And let’s remember what John the apostle said above: “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20 NIV) And finally, Jesus Christ himself said: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

Therefore, we shouldn’t believe any false teachings that say Jesus was of the same nature as God the Father. I say this because not only did both Paul and John the apostles clearly declared that God the Father was “the only true God,” but Jesus Christ himself claimed this as well. Yes, this is true brothers and sisters in Christ. For as we have already read earlier, Jesus let go of who he was in heaven in order to became flesh and blood like us. He did this in order take upon himself the sins of the world. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man” (James 1:13)

So, according to that passage above, God himself cannot be tempted with sin. However, we know that Jesus was tempted, for we read: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” (Matthew 4:1) And again we see this to be true where we read: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 ESV) This is also true in Hebrew 2:18 where we read: “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18 ESV)

So, Jesus himself was tempted according to these passages. Therefore, when Jesus came in the flesh, he couldn't be equal nor of the same nature as God the Father. Also, that passage above shows us that Jesus had the capacity to commit sin while being flesh and blood. I say this because it wouldn’t make sense for him to be tested if he didn’t have the capability to give into those temptations. However, we know he resisted temptation at every point. And let’s be thankful for that my brothers and sister in Christ. I say this because our salvation was at stake in all this.  

What others have to say:

• When He came to earth in that body which was of the seed of David, did He come with all the fullness of God in His Spirit? The answer is “No”, because it is written, “… who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8). We often hear it said, “He was true God and true Man.” But this is not true if you mean that He retained all God’s fullness when He came to earth in the body that was of the seed of David. Nor is this statement appropriate in light of what is written in Hebrews 12:2, “… looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” (activechristianity.org)
• The New Testament teaches that Jesus was a man: The New Testament teaches that Jesus was a man. For one thing, Jesus himself said so. For example, in John 8:40, Jesus said he was “a man who has told you the truth.” Jesus was not being disingenuous and hiding his “divine nature.” He was making a factual statement that reinforced what the Jews were expecting of the Messiah—that he would be a fully human man. …The apostles also taught that Jesus was a man. For example, in his sermon to the crowds gathered on the Day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter made a very clear declaration that Jesus was a man approved of God: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you…” (Acts 2:22). Here Peter clearly taught that Jesus was a man, and that God did miracles “by him.” … Like Peter, Paul also taught that Jesus was a man. For example, when he was in Athens, Paul taught a crowd of unsaved Gentiles about Jesus Christ and said that God would judge the world “by the man whom He has appointed” (Acts 17:31). Paul never said or implied that Jesus was anything but a “man. … There are a number of other New Testament verses that state that Jesus was a man. For example, Romans says that a man, Adam, caused sin to enter into the world, and also that a man would have to redeem it from sin. Romans 5:15 (ESV) says, “For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” Some theologians teach that only God could pay for the sins of mankind, but the Bible specifically says that a man must do it. The book of Corinthians makes the same point Romans does. It says, “For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor. 15:21 NASB). … 1 Timothy 2:5 says that it is Jesus, the man, who was the mediator between God and men. 1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV) says, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” This verse calls Jesus Christ a “man” even after his resurrection. … Actually, the book of Hebrews seems to clear up the subject when it says that when Jesus was on earth, he was made like us in every way: “Therefore he [Jesus] had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God” (Heb. 2:17 ESV). This verse shows that Jesus was not both fully human and fully God at the same time. If he was, he would not be like us in every respect. If we believe that Jesus was a fully human man, this verse can be seen to be completely true, but if Jesus is fully God and fully human, it is confusing at best. None of us would have the doubts, worries, and fears, that we do if we were God. Saying that Jesus was made like us in every way is the Bible saying in a very straightforward way that Jesus was not “both God and human.” Commentary from the online “Revised English Version” at appendix 10 section.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2)

Now that all being said, we shouldn’t view Jesus as some ordinary prophet. For before coming to this earth, he was the “Word” who was with God and was God as well. And we know that all things were made through him and for him. For we read concerning Jesus: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16 ESV) So, we must understand that this is God’s beloved Son whom he gave to be a sacrifice for our sins. For we read: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus is our Lord whom we bow to. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) 

Below are some other scriptures pertaining to all what was mentioned above. I encourage you to go through them all and take to heart what’s being said. For we as a church must break away from the watered down teachings that’s being preached in many churches today:

• “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.” (Luke 18:18-19) Note: Jesus made sure that this ruler would understand that only God gets all the glory for any act of good being performed by man.
• “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28) Note: Jesus acknowledges while being in his human state, God the Father is greater than he.
• “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 ESV) Note: Jesus was clearly showing that God the Father is the only true God. Therefore, Jesus wasn’t equal to nor of the same nature as God the Father.
• “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22) Note: Peter acknowledges that it was God who was doing the miracles through Jesus. Thus, being in his human state, Jesus fully depended upon the Father for everything he said and did.
• “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7) Note: Paul the apostle makes a distinction between who the only true God is and who our Lord Jesus Christ is.
• “But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body so it will have the same form as his glorious body, by the power that also enables him to subject all things to himself.” (Phillipians 3:20-21 REV) Note: Our new bodies are going to be transformed to be like the body of Jesus Christ. That should be exciting for us who are in Christ.
• “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6) Note: Paul makes it clear to Timothy that there is only “one God” which we know is God our Father. And that there is “one mediator” who stands between us and God the Father, which we know is “the man Christ Jesus.” 
• “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9) Note: So, we see that Jesus just like us today, was made “a little lower than the angels.” This verse is a quote from Psalm where we read: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little less than angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor;” (Psalms 8:4-5)
• “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17 ESV) Note: Again, this should be proof that Jesus was not equal to God when he came in the flesh. For he gave up who he was in heaven to redeem us from our sins.
• “Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.” (1 John 3:2 NET) Note: So, John is saying that when we are finally in our new bodies, we will be like Jesus and see him in his glorified body. This couldn’t happen if Jesus was of the same nature as God.
• “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we can know the True One, and we are in union with the True One by being in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This One is the true God and life in the age to come.” (1 John 5:20 REV) Note: God, the Father, is called “the True One” in 1 John because there were so many antichrists and false teachings and pagan idols. Many people mistook those false things to be true and the truth, so John takes the time here in 1 John 5:20 to correct that erroneous thinking and refer to the true God as “the True One.” This all falls in line with what John said in his own gospel at John 17:3 as well.
• “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25 NASB95) Note: Please notice what Jude is declaring here. For he is clearly showing that there is an distinction between “the only God our Savior,” and “Jesus Christ our Lord.” For God the Father is the only true God
• 'The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. (Revelation 3:12 NASB20) Note: Here we have Jesus saying “My God” four times. And he is doing this while being in his glorified body which we are going to be in as well. This is proof that Jesus was not equal to nor of the same nature as God. 

Note: Bible text other than the King James Vision are listed below.

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• NIV = THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
• ASV = New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
• NASB95 = Copyright (c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved
• REV = The REV® (Revised English Version®) copyright © 2014 by Spirit & Truth Fellowship International, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• NET = The NET Bible®, New English Translation Copyright © 1996 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NET Bible® is a registered trademark The NET Bible® Logo, Service Mark Copyright © 1997 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
• NASB20 = New American Standard Bible 2020 Copyright (c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved

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To the Reader: This article clearly shows that Jesus, being fully human like us, relied totally on the Holy Spirit for everything he said and did. And because of this, he was able to show us who God the Father is. For we read that: “Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:8-9 ESV) But not only that, Jesus came to show us that he was the promised Messiah sent from God. Therefore, it’s important for us to study God’s word to fully know who God the Father is and Jesus Christ our Savior. And a good place to start would be in the book of John (especially the first 3 chapters).

So, let’s studying the word of God and: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB20) Amen. 

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

Jesus being fully human, was filled and led by the Holy Spirit. We can see this first happening after his baptism by John the Baptist as quoted above and to the left. “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” (Matthew 4:1) And let’s take note to what Peter said: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.” (Acts 2:22) First, we see Peter saying that he was “a man approved of God,” and then by “miracles and wonders and signs,” and finally: “which God did by him.” Therefore, being flesh and blood just like us, Jesus was operating through the power of the Spirit. This would include his ability to do miracles, walk on water (which we know Peter did as recorded in Matthew 14:29), casting out demons, foreseeing events and all other supernatural works. These abilities were not only performed by the early disciples of Jesus, but they have been passed on to us his disciples today as well.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man” (James 1:13)

Now, we must realize that God the Father CAN NOT be tempted to do evil. However, as we read above, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil to do evil. Therefore, this is proof that Jesus couldn’t be of the same nature as God the Father while being in the flesh. However, even though Jesus came in the flesh and was vulnerable to this world’s temptations, he was strong enough to put them off by the Holy Spirit that dwelt within him. For Jesus being fully human like us, prayed often alone to God to receive strength and to be saved. I say this because scripture says that: “During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:7-8 CSB) And what was the outcome of him doing this, well: “After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:9-10 CSB) And let’s praise God and thank him for that my brothers and sisters in Christ. For our salvation was at stake.

Below are more passages on this subject:

• Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1)
• The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18)
• But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. (Luke 11:20)
• So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (John 5:19 ESV)
• Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. (John 8:28)
• For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life eternal; the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:49-50 ASV)
• Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (John 14:10-11 ASV)
• Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay: whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (Acts 2:22-24 ASV)

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)

So, according to that passage above, we must always be walking after the Holy Spirit. For this is the only way we can put off all the sins of this world as our forerunner Jesus did. For we know that this is God’s will and desire for all of us who are in Christ. But we must also understand that we were steeped in sin before coming to Christ. Therefore, we Christians are in a learning process where we may make a mistake now and then. For John first says: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. So, John says that it should be our goal not to sin. However, he goes on to say: “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1 ESV) So, if we do sin, we need to repent and ask God for forgiveness and do our best not to repeat it.

Now that being said, we should never say that we are not able to stop sinning. For scripture clearly says otherwise. For John then goes on to say: “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” (1 John 3:4-6 ESV) And let’s keep in mind what Jesus himself said: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) So, would Jesus as well as John the apostle mention all this if it was imposable for us to stop sinning? Therefore, we are required to do our best by purify ourselves. Therefore: “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3 ESV)

• Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:5-9 ESV)

“If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.” (1 John 5:16 NKJV)

This is a very sobering peace of Scripture. For John clearly says that there is a sin which leads to death. And let’s take not to what Jesus said: “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32 ESV) Next, the writer of Hebrews says: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27 NKJV) So, what is this “willfully” sin that the writer of Hebrews is talking about? Well, let’s read on: “How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29 NASB20)

So, not only is this about turning away from Jesus Christ whom they once embraced, but speaking insults against (blasphemes) against the Holy Spirit as well. Therefore, they are turning away from the truth (committing apostacy) in which there will be no forgiveness for them. So, brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25) Yes, please let’s do this my fellow Christians. Amen.

• So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:17-20 ESV)

Below are some other passages in God’s word that we need to consider. For leaders in the church should make sure that all know the consequences for turning away from the truth after receiving it:

• For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:4-8 ESV)
• For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-31 ESV)
• If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. (1 John 5:16-17 NKJV)

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27)

So, where did John get his information concerning the Holy Spirit teaching you all things? Well, wasn’t it Jesus Christ himself? For we read: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV) Yes, brothers and sister in Christ. You do not need to wait until Sunday for some pastor or teacher to tell you what the bible says. For you can read and lean it for yourself, because of the Holy Spirit within you. And yes, we do need leaders in the church to encourage us in the faith and keep things in order. But again, it’s the Holy Spirit in us who opens our understanding of God’s word whether it’s preached from the pulpit or we read it on our own.

Therefore: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Yes, fellow Christians. We need to crack open our bibles and read it for ourselves. For it is God himself who opens up our understanding as said before.

• Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 ESV)

God bless you as you seek to do his well. Amen.

Note: Bible text other than the King James Bible have been listed below.

• ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• NKJV = New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
• ASV = New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.
• NASB20 = New American Standard Bible 2020 Copyright (c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
• CSB = Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017, 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers.

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 To the Reader: This article touches on some view that were made by those of Jesus time as well as today Pastors and Teachers. And one of those views is concerning whether or not Jesus was equal to God the Father. So, to find and answer to all this, we must read what God word has to say. So, after reading this article I encourage you to do a further study for yourself. For we are not just to take what we hear as facts without looking deeper into scripture ourselves. Therefore, I encourage you my fellow Christian to study the word of God for yourself and: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB20) Amen. 

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” (John 5:18)

Now, did Jesus really break the sabbath and claimed to be equal to God the Father? I ask this because Jesus did say: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)

So, Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to destroy or break it. Therefore, since obeying the Sabbath day was part of the Ten Commandments, Jesus wouldn’t have broken it. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Next, did Jesus really make himself equal with God by calling him Father? Well, Jesus did say for us to pray: “Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” according to Matthew 6:9. So, are we making ourselves equal with God by call him Father as well? Of course not. We can see the same thing happening where the Jews wanted to stone Jesus for saying: “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30). For: “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” (John 10:33) But again, Jesus did say to God his Father: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20-21) So, being one with both God the Father and Jesus doesn’t make us equal with God.

Therefore, shouldn’t this oneness simply mean we are in unity which each other? So, let’s not come to the false notion that being one makes us possess the same nature. For as said above, that would make us equal with God as well.

Below are some comments related to the section above:

• When Jesus says to the apostles, “you in me, and I in you” (John 14:20), he is using the same wording that he used when he speaks of being “in” the Father. In fact, Jesus prayed in John 17:21 that people will believe so “that they also may be in us” (in the Father and Jesus). A study of Jesus’ teaching at the Last Supper shows that he placed a lot of emphasis on he and the Father being “in” each other(John 14:10, 11, 20; 17:21-22), and similarly taught about the disciples being “in” him and he “in” them (John 15:4-7). Thus, just as God and Jesus have an intimate relationship and are in union with one another, so God, Jesus, and believers are to be in an intimate relationship with one another. … Another word in John that expresses the union and fellowship between God, Jesus, and the believer is the word “one.” Jesus said that He and the Father were “one” (John 10:30), meaning one in purpose, unified, in intimate relationship with each other. … Jesus expanded what he said about He and his Father being “one” at the Last Supper when three times he prayed about the believers being “one” just as God and Christ were one. He prayed, “that they may be one, just as we are” (John 17:11), and “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us” (John 17:21), and “so that they may be one, just as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one” (John 17:22-23). It is clear from all the uses of “one” that Jesus and God being “one” does not refer to them being “one God and of the same essence,” but rather one in purpose. John 10:38, REV Bible and Commentary (revisedenglishversion.com)
• As we have seen, when John wrote that Jesus “broke the Sabbath” (John 5:18), he was describing Jesus' actions from the Pharisees’ perspective (compare 9:14-1 6). Those who say Jesus did actually break the Sabbath are agreeing with Christ's enemies—His accusers—that Jesus’ miraculous works of healing were a breach of the Sabbath law. They are agreeing with Jesus' accusers that He was a Sabbath-breaker. To be consistent, they must also agree with the Pharisees when they said of Christ: “We know that this man is a sinner” (v. 24). The blind man who had been healed knew better than that, saying that “we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him” (v. 31). When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, He was not violating the law of God. By His actions, He demonstrated the true application of God’s laws—rather than Pharisaic traditions—that “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:12). The “law” that Jesus violated was a man-made rule that was itself against the principles of God's law. Remember: Had Jesus Christ actually broken the Sabbath, He would have been sinning. But the Scripture says that He “committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22). Had He sinned, He could not be our Savior. But He, being undefiled and separate from sinners, offered Himself without spot and without blemish to God for our redemption (Hebrews 7:26; 9:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19). No, Jesus did not break the Sabbath. He spent the Sabbath preaching, teaching, healing, honoring God and doing the good work of His ministry—the work of God. (The Bible Sabbath Association, by Rod Reynolds) https://www.biblesabbath.org/tss/515/sabbath.html#:~:text=No%2C 
• I and the Father are one. … The ancients misused this passage … Christ is not discussing the unity of substance, but the concord he has with the Father; so that whatever Christ does will be confirmed by his Father’s power. (Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries, book 4, St. John, chapter 1-10, page 273, Eerdmans Publishing Company.
• “the charge here of Y’shua making himself equal to YHWH is simply Pharisee tradition projecting itself onto Y’shua.” ... “The Ruach haKadesh (the Holy Spirit) in Mashiyach (in Christ) is equal to YHWH (God), but the Pharisees supposed that Y’shua and his followers equated his humanity with YHWH, they didn’t understand Isaiah 11:1-2, that Mahiyach has the Ruach haKadesh within him The Aramaic English New Testament, “The Peshitta” by Andrew Gabriel Roth)
• When He came to earth in that body which was of the seed of David, did He come with all the fullness of God in His Spirit? The answer is “No”, because it is written, “… who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-8. We often hear it said, “He was true God and true Man.” But this is not true if you mean that He retained all God’s fullness when He came to earth in the body that was of the seed of David. Nor is this statement appropriate in light of what is written in Hebrews 12:2, “… looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” … Jesus came down to us with the same flesh as the children had. (Hebrews 2:14-16) He experienced the same temptations that we experience and overcame them while He was a man without sinning a single time! (Hebrews 4:15) (Active Christianity by: BRUNSTAD CHRISTIAN CHURCH)

Now, let’s remember what Jesus said to his disciples: “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28 So, Jesus clearly admits that the Father is greater than he is. Also, in Hebrews 2:9 we read: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. ... Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:9, 14-15) So, it clearly says that Jesus “was made a little lower than the angels.”

And finally, let’s take heed to what Jesus himself said. For in John 17:3 he declared: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) So, even though he was at one point existing in the form God (the Logos), he emptied himself of who he was and became flesh and blood like us. Therefore, in his human state he was rightly declaring that God the Father is the only true God. We can see this also to be true where John the apostle said: “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20 NIV) Yes, John clearly said that Jesus came to revel “him who is true” which we know is God the Father himself. Also, in Paul’s writings and letters to the churches, he begins by saying: “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:3). So, the apostle Paul is making it clear that God is our Father and Jesus is our Lord and Savior.

So, that all being said, wouldn’t the claim: “makest thyself God” be based upon a misunderstanding of who Jesus was? Therefore, we should all agree that Jesus didn’t break the Sabbath nor was he of the same nature as God the Father while being in the flesh? For “he emptied himself” in order to show us the way to the Father and to take upon himself the sins of the world. For we read: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 NASB, 1995 version) Yes, brothers and sister in Christ, this is a true act of love indeed.

Now that being said, we shouldn’t be viewing Jesus as some ordinary prophet that came and went. For Jesus himself said: “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” (John 17:1-5 ESV) So again, even though Jesus admitted that the only true God was the Father himself, he still is to be highly exalted above every name as God’s word says. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV)

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 ESV) Amen.

Below are some other scriptures pertaining to all what was mentioned above. I encourage you to go through them all and take to heart what’s being said. For we as a church must break away from the watered-down teachings that’s being preached in many churches today:

• And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” (Luke 18:18-19 ESV) Note: Jesus made sure that only God the Father got the glory for any good that He did through him.
• "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) Note: Jesus being completely human, was admitting that the God the Father is greater than he was.
• “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 ESV) Note: Jesus was clearly showing that God the Father is the only true God. Therefore, Jesus wasn’t equal to nor of the same nature as God the Father.
• "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:" (Acts 2:22) Note: Peter clearly showed that it was God himself who was doing the miracles through Jesus.
• “yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.” (1 Corinthians 8:6 NKJV) Paul the apostle is making it clear that there is only one God, which is the Father himself. Therefore, Jesus in not God but our Lord and Savior.
• “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:7) Note: Paul the apostle makes a distinction between who the only true God is and who our Lord Jesus Christ is.
• “But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body so it will have the same form as his glorious body, by the power that also enables him to subject all things to himself.” (Phillipians 3:20-21 REV) Note: Our new bodies are going to be transformed to be like the body of Jesus Christ. That should be exciting for us who are in Christ.
• "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6) Note: Again, Paul the apostle clearly shows that there is only one true God (which we know is God our Father) and one mediator (between us and God) which is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9) Note: So, we see that Jesus just like us today, was made “a little lower than the angels.” This verse is a quote from Psalm where we read: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little less than angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor;” (Psalms 8:4-5)
• "Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:17-18 ESV) Note: Jesus struggled while resisting this world temptations. However, being filled with the Holy Spirit, he was able to make it through them all. Therefore, we who are in Christ can resist the devil as well through the power of Holy Spirit within us
• “Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.” (1 John 3:2 NET) Note: So, John is saying that when we are finally in our new bodies, we will be like Jesus and see him in his glorified body. This couldn’t happen if Jesus was of the same nature as God.
• “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we can know the True One, and we are in union with the True One by being in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This One is the true God and life in the age to come.” (1 John 5:20 REV) Note: God, the Father, is called “the True One” in 1 John because there were so many antichrists and false teachings and pagan idols. Many people mistook those false things to be true and the truth, so John takes the time here in 1 John 5:20 to correct that erroneous thinking and refer to the true God as “the True One.” This all falls in line with what John said in his own gospel at John 17:3 as well.
• “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25 NASB95) Note: Please notice what Jude is declaring here. For he is clearly showing that there is an distinction between “the only God our Savior,” and “Jesus Christ our Lord.” For God the Father is the only true God.
• 'The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. (Revelation 3:12 NASB20) Note: Here we have Jesus saying “My God” four times. And he is doing this while being in his glorified body which we are going to be in as well. This is proof that Jesus was not equal to nor of the same nature as God.
  
   

God bless you as you seek to do His will. Amen

(Note: Bible text other than the King James Bible have been noted below)

• ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• NIV = THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
• NASB20 = New American Standard Bible 2020 Copyright (c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
• NASB95 = Copyright (c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved
• REV = The REV® (Revised English Version®) copyright © 2014 by Spirit & Truth Fellowship International, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• NET = The NET Bible®, New English Translation Copyright © 1996 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NET Bible® is a registered trademark The NET Bible® Logo, Service Mark Copyright © 1997 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
• NKJV = New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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To the Reader: So, who raised who? Did Jesus raise himself or was it an act of God the Father himself? Well, this article digs deep into the scriptures to help find the answer to this question. And yes, there may be some brothers in Christ who oppose a few things in this article. And even though they may mean well in what they’re teaching, we shouldn’t just blindly follow what’s being said or taught. For by diligently studying the word of God for ourselves, we can put away any teachings that may not line up with the truth. So, let’s instead follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I encourage you to: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB20) Amen.

“Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:18-19) 

Above is one of those passages that needs to be examined closely. For we must ask ourselves, did Jesus raise himself up? Well, to find out we need examine what the scriptures have to say. First, we have the apostle Peter who said: “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (Acts 2:23-24) Again Peter said: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Acts 2:29-32, Psalm 16:10)

So, according to those passages above, God the Father was the one who raised up Jesus. And let’s remember that Jesus himself was a prophet and spoke the words of God. For Moses himself declared this when he said: “Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deuteronomy 18:15 ASV) Peter said the same thing in Acts 3:22 when he was reminding the people of what Moses said. So, wouldn’t Jesus be simply declaring what God the Father was going to do? And wouldn’t that be the fact that God the Father would raise him up from the dead. For we read: “When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.” (John 2:22)

So, it says that they “believed the scripture” which says: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Psalm 16:10) as well as the words of Jesus who said: “The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again.” (Matthew 17:22-23)

Below are some comments from others:

• New Testament scholar and historian, Larry Hurtado, examined the New Testament evidence and offers this observation: “So, Jesus’ resurrection is presented, not as Jesus’ act, but God’s… Actually, a survey of all the NT references to Jesus’ resurrection will confirm this pattern, in which it is posited as the crucial act of God, not the act of Jesus.” https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/november/died-larry-hurtado-new-testament-early-christian-worship.html
• I will put MY Words in his mouth. Deuteronomy 18:18; see Acts 2:22-26. This was a message from God the Father to these Jews. … And the Word having become flesh, God the Father speaks to these Jews by means of his Word, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” … And we find in the Gospel of John that Jesus tells us by what authority that he says the things he says and does the things he does. He came in the name of his Father and the Father abiding in him did the works (14:10). His words were not his own but the Father’s who sent him (14:24). … Jesus tells us many times in John's Gospel that he spoke the words of the Father. He kept his Father’s word (8:55) for eternal life. “For I did not speak from myself, but the Father Himself who sent me has given me commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.” John 12:50. The word Jesus had spoken at John 2:19 were the words of the Father. The Father's word is “the word of life” (1 John 1:1) … Therefore, being the Father’s word, what then did you expect the Father to say when these men asked Jesus by what authority he had cleared the Temple? “Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up.” https://www.angelfire.com/space/thegospeltruth/TTD/verses/john2_19.html
• So what Jesus said was very unusual and cryptic, but thankfully there is a key in the context that shows that Jesus was not contradicting the clear teaching that God would raise him from the dead. Only a few verses after John 2:19, John 2:22 says that Jesus “was raised,” and the Greek verb is passive voice, indicating that someone [God!] raised Jesus and that he did not raise himself. The fact that Jesus’ statement in John 2:19 is followed closely by the statement that Jesus “was raised” shows us that the author of the Gospel of John did not think that Jesus was saying that he would raise himself from the dead. Furthermore, the Gospel of John continues teaching that Jesus “was raised,” as we see in John 21:14. … “Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up” is that he was speaking directly for the Father. Jesus said in John 14:24, “the word that you are hearing is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.” So, Jesus could have been speaking the words of God the Father directly in the same way that often the prophets of old said, “Thus saith Yahweh,” and then spoke directly for God. We should note that when Jesus cleansed the Temple in Matthew and Mark, he quoted from Scripture: for example, in Matthew 21:13 and Mark 11:17 he quotes Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. Furthermore, in the verses that Jesus quoted, Isaiah and Jeremiah were speaking in the first person for God. It is quite possible that Jesus, being the Son of God and a prophet, could have been speaking first person for God just as the prophets he quoted had done many years earlier. (Taken from the Revised English Version commentary section)

Below are other Scriptures showing that it wasn't Jesus who raise himself from the dead, but God the Father who did it:

• The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:13-15)
• The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.” (Acts 5:30)
• And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. (Acts 10:39-41)
• And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took [him] down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. (Acts 13:29-31)
• That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
• Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:1-5)
• That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:17-20)
• Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.” (1 Corinthians 15:15)
• For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

Below are some scriptures showing that Jesus was a prophet as Moses foretold:

• And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. ... But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. (Matthew 21:11, 46)
• And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” (Mark 6:4 ESV)
• And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. (Luke 7:16)
• Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' (Luke 13:33 ESV)
• And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (Luke 24:19 ESV)
• Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.” (John 4:16-19 ESV)
• Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. (John 6:14)
• Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. (John 7:40)
• They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. (John 9:17)
• For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. (Acts 3:22)
• This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. (Acts 7:37)

“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21)

So again, form all what was mentioned above, we can clearly see that Jesus had nothing to do with his resurrection, except for the fact that he trusted that God would perform it. For concerning Jesus, we read: “Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2:26-27) Therefore, we must trust the word of God and not the watered-down teaching of man. For we must: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

God bless you as you seek to do his well. Amen

(Note: Bible text other than the King James Bible have been abbreviated according to the version that was used. This is for you the reader to know which version was used in order for you to go read it for yourselves. For the one who penned this article doesn’t want anyone thinking that he did some scripture twisting to make it read according to his liking or view)

(Note: Bible text other than the King James Bible have been noted below)

• ASV = New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
• ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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To the Reader: So, all of you who were baptized, was it by someone saying? Did Jesus raise himself or was it an act of God the Father himself? Well, this article digs deep into the scriptures to help find the answer to this question. For by diligently studying the word of God for ourselves, we can put away any teachings that may not line up with the truth. So, let’s instead follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I encourage you to: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB20) Amen.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Many of use (if not almost all) who were baptized may recall being baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. But, is this correct? I ask this because we must first realize that the word's Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not names, but only titles. For even within our own families we have earthly fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. So, if someone asked you what’s you sisters name, are you going to tell them it’s sister? No, of course not. Therefore, we must dive deeper into this meaning of the word “name” mentioned above. First, we must realize that this word “name” is in the singular tense, not the plural. And as mentioned above, the words Father, Son and Holy Spirit are only titles. Therefore, including them in the “I baptize you in” wouldn’t make any sense at all. So, who’s name should we be using. Well, scripture itself has the answer to all this which I listed below.

· Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:37-39)

• Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (Acts 8:14-16)
• And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. (Acts 10:48 ESV)
• Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:4-5)

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)

It is clear from for that passage above that it is only through Jesus Christ himself that we can be saved. So, being baptized in his name would make sense. But you may still be questioning on why did it say the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Well, the answer lies in the meaning of the word Jesus itself. For the name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. Now, according to Strong’s Definitions, it says: “Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader:—Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua.” So, we see the coupling of the name “Jehovah,” which is in reference to God Himself and the word “saved” which we know is what Jesus came to do. So, it’s through the Father (God himself), the Son (which is Jesus) and the Holy Spirit (which resides in us) that we can obtain salvation, which is eternal life in heaven. Therefore, it is appropriate to be baptized into the name Jesus, which according to what was mentioned above, would be, “Jehovah-saved.” Wouldn’t you agree?

“And he said to him, ‘Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in the Paradise.’” (Luke 23:43 REV)

Now, that all being said, we shouldn’t panic and start thinking that we’re not truly saved because we were baptized differently. For God knows our hearts and therefore, we should have comfort knowing that we are saved and washed in the blood of Christ. And let’s remember that the thief who never got baptized, was promised that he would be with Jesus in paradise. However, if you do find yourself in a church that does baptize in the name of Jesus and you feel compelled to be rebaptize, then do so. It’s all up to you. But again, don’t doubt your salvation ether way.

God bless you as you seek to do His will. Amen.

Check-out these videos below on baptizing in Jesus Name:

• Why We Baptize in Jesus' Name - Dr. David K. Bernard & Dr. David
• Baptized in Jesus Name

All passages other than the King James Version are noted below:

• REV = The REV® (Revised English Version®) copyright © 2014 by Spirit & Truth Fellowship International, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Our gathering for communion should be a time to reflect on the price that has been paid for our sins. For we first read concerning the body of Jesus: “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) So, we read that Jesus said: “this do in remembrance of me.” Next, we read: “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28)

Now, during communion, we may hear some Church leadership declare that we must first examine ourselves for any sin in our lives before partaking of the bread and wine. But is that what Jesus said? Well, let’s look again what he said above, for we read: “this do in remembrance of me.” So, why do they say that we must examine ourselves first? Are they not taking the words of the apostle Paul out of context? Yes of course, for Paul first said: “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.” (1 Corinthians 11:20-21) So, we see that they were treating this as some common ordinary meal. However, down a few verses Paul makes it clear what this meal is to be all about, for he said: “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:26) Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, this meal is to be all about the life and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27 ESV) Wow, that’s a stern warning for us who partake of the Lord’s supper. So, what is this “unworthy manner” that Paul is talking about in that passage above? Well, let’s continue reading to find out. For he goes on to say: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29) Well, there you go. The unworthy manner IS NOT some unconfessed sin in our lives, but it’s not properly discerning the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, one is “guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord,” and “drinketh damnation to himself” if they eat “not discerning the Lord’s body.” Therefore: “That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” (1 Corinthians 11:30 ESV) Wow, we can see how important it is to take this meal seriously.

Therefore, we must stop teaching this false doctrine of unconfessed sin. I say this because there may be some unconfessed sin that comes to mind during or even after we have partaken. And because of this false teaching, one could feel guilty and thus end up feeling even worse than before. For let’s face it, if we really had to examine ourselves to see if there is any unconfessed sin in our lives, we may never be able to partake of communion. So please, let’s keep things in context and not add unbiblical teachings that can stumble one another. God help us all, amen.

• Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever. (John 6:54-58)

God bless you as you seek to do his will. Amen

Note: Bible text other than the King James Bible are listed below.

• ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of Jehovah forever: because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. Nevertheless Jehovah thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but Jehovah thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because Jehovah thy God loved thee. Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever. (Deuteronomy 23:3-6 ASV)

In that passage above, we can clearly see that there was a curse on both the Ammonites and the Moabites. But my focus in this article is that of the Moabites because Jesus himself is a descendant of them. So, how could Jesus enter into the assembly of Jehovah if he is a descendant of Ruth who was a Moabite? Well, to find that answer, let’s first start with this verse which reads: “In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.” (Ruth 1:1-5 ESV)

So, according to what we read above, Naomi’s husband and her two sons died. Now, Naomi declared that the hand of God had was against her, and therefore encouraged her two daughter-in-law’s to return to their people, the Moabites. And according to scripture, the one named Orpah stayed in Moab while the other named Ruth clung to Naomi and went back with her to Bethlehem. And while being there, Ruth ended up marrying a fine Jewish man name Boaz and gave birth to a son named Obed. This we know was King David’s grandfather according to Matthew’s genealogy account. But, what about the curse that was placed upon the Moabite people, which Ruth was part of? Wouldn’t this disqualify not only King David who was a descendant of Ruth, but Jesus himself being a descendant of King David? Well, to find out the answer, we need to do our homework and: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

First, I like to point out that there are studies showing that the components a man’s semen can be detected within a woman’s blood stream with a few hours of her receiving it (see articles below). This would include his DNA as well. For studies have also shown that a woman retains the man’s DNA within her body (see study links below). This would make the bible passage which says: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh,” not just some metaphoric phrase, but an actual fact. (Matthew 19:5 ESV) So, this would include not only a marriage relationship, but even a onetime sexual act outside of a marriage relationship. For Paul the apostle declared: “Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh’.” (1 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV)

So, even if a man (whether single or married) has sex with a prostitute, she becomes “one flesh” with him by receiving his semen (and DNA) into her body. So again, this is not some metaphor that’s associated with a true marriage relationship. For anyone who receives a man’s semen into their bodies (whether it’s received by a woman within a biblical marriage, or by a whore on the streets, or even between two homosexual men) becomes one flesh with that man. For whoever receiving a man's semen into their body, there is an act of one-flesh taking place.

• Women receive and retain male DNA through sex - Article 1
• Women receive and retain male DNA through sex  - Article 2

So, we learned that a woman (or even homosexual men) literally become “one flesh” with a man by receiving his semen (DNA). Therefore, every child that she gives birth to will now be a descendant of her husband family line and thus takes on his family name (not hers). And because of this, the curse that was placed on the Moabites is now broken. This would also include the curse which was placed upon Jehoiakim (also called Jeconiah) king of Judah. For we read: “Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.” (Jeremiah 36:30 ASV) For even though Mary was a descendant of both Ruth and Jehoiakim, (click link below for more details on Mary's genealogy) her conception of Jesus was through an act of God, for we read: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35 ESV) Therefore the curse again would be broken because God was the Father of Jesus.

• Joseph, the Father of Mary?

So, we see that King David, and most importantly Jesus Christ himself, can rightly sit upon their thrones. For concerning Jesus we read: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33 ASV)

Below is a comment taken from the website, “Christianity.stockexchange.com

• Naomi fled from the famine in Judah to live in Moab with her husband and two sons. Her two sons eventually married Moabite wives including Ruth. Naomi’s husband and sons eventually died and she decided to return to her homeland. Ruth clung onto her with a pledge that ‘your people will be my people and your God will be my God.’ (Ruth 1:16). Though she was a Moabite, Ruth was ‘acquired’/purchased by Boaz, the guardian/kinsman redeemer of Naomi’s family (Ruth 4:9-10). Scripture says, “the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son” (see vs 13, NIV) - Obed, who was David’s grandfather. In a short genealogy of David (see Ruth 4:21-22), Boaz is listed as the father of Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. This was in line with Jewish culture where children are the offspring of their fathers and not their mother. Indeed throughout history, Jewish men did marry or produce children from captive or slave non-Jewish women and the off-spring became Jewish because of their fathers. So technically, Obed, the grandfather of David, was the son of Boaz and not Ruth. (Remark is from Peter Nayanzi which can be found at https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/47103/how-could-david-enter-the-congregation-of-the-lord-when-he-was-descended-from-ru/47113#47113

This all being said, both Mary’s genealogy (through the line recorded in Matthew’s account) and Joseph’s (as recorded in Luke’s account) have no curse placed upon them. For the curse can only be passed on through the male descendants (unless of course there was an act of incest performed by a woman’s father or brothers).

Note: Bible text other than the King James Version are listed below

• ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• NKJV = New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
• ASV = New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.

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“When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!’” (John 2:9-10 NET)

Drinking wine is one of those topics that has been misunderstood by some Christians. For there are those who try to make the scriptures read in such a way as to condemn the drinking of fermented wine. Yes, they go as far in such a way as to say that Jesus made ordinary grape juice at the wedding he was invited to. However this is not true. For we can clearly see from scripture itself that Christians, and yes even Jesus himself drank (and even made) fermented wine. Now, I do believe that these same people are sincere in their faith and mean well. For it’s true that wine and other alcoholic beverages have caused many problems. But to twist scripture in such a way as to fit one’s own theological view is wrong as well.

So, let’s start in John’s gospel chapter 2 where it says that Jesus made “good wine” from water. “When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!’” (John 2:9-10 NET) So, head steward admitted not only that the “good wine” can make the people drunk, but unknowingly admitted that Jesus had made “good wine.” So yes, Jesus made fermented wine at this wedding. (Please note: the word used for “drunk” in that passage above is the Greek word: “methuo,” which means “intoxication.”)

Now, let’s look at another passage that should show that the early church did drink fermented wine. “Now when you come together at the same place, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk. Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!” (1 Corinthians 11:20-22 NET) So, we see the same Greek word used for drunkenness as before. So, this should stop all mouths that say the consumption of alcohol in general is wrong.

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV)

Now, that being said, we must admit that getting drunk is a sin according to scripture. And if abused to the point of one being a continued drunkard, it can harm that person’s relationship with God and even prevent them from entering into his Kingdom. (1Corinthians 6:9-10) However, that doesn’t mean that you throw the baby out with the bathwater. Therefore, we shouldn’t demonize something just because there are those that abuse it. Anything can be abused my brothers and sisters in Christ. Sex can be abused. So, does that mean everybody should become celibate because there are men, women, children, and yes, even animals being sexually violated all over the world? Of course not. So, why should we treat drinking wine differently?

So then, enjoying a glass of wine, a bottle of beer or some other alcoholic beverage is not a sin as long as you refrain from getting intoxicated. And let’s remember that Jesus himself admits to drinking fermented wine when he said: “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:18-19 ESV) Now, of course we know that they were falsely accusing Jesus of getting drunk. But, this still shows that they knew he was drinking fermented wine while hanging out with sinners.

This all being said, we see that there are those who do drink wine and there are those who refrain from drinking wine. Therefore, those who choose not to drink should not condemn nor look down on those who do. Also, those who do drink wine should not look down nor pressure anyone to make them drink. And let’s take note to what Paul the apostle said: “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. ... So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.” (Romans 14:13-14, 22 NIV)

• You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart. (Psalm 104:14-15 ESV)
• No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. (1 Timothy 5:23 NKJV)

• Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! (Isaiah 5:11 ESV)
• Don’t gaze at wine because it is red, because it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say absurd things. You’ll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship’s mast. “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn’t know it! When will I wake up? I’ll look for another drink.” (Proverbs 23:31-35 CSB)

(Note: Text other than the King James Version are listed below.)

• ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• NKJV = New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
• CSB = Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017, 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers.
• The NET Bible®, New English Translation Copyright © 1996 By Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NET Bible® is a registered trademark The NET Bible® Logo, Service Mark Copyright © 1997 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
• NIV = THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

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