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Can Christians Be Cursed Through Witchcraft?
Many Christian leaders teach that believers can never come under a curse sent by witchcraft. They often refer to the account of when Balaam and Balak would have cursed Israel but failed because Israel was in right standing with God. Nevertheless, these same Bible teachers can neither deny nor explain real life occurrences of Christians being affected by curses sent through witchcraft. Learn what the Bible says on this subject. Straight-forward and scripturally accurate answers are provided for readers who may also test their knowledge by completing the questionnaire at the end.
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Who Was Jesus? Was He the Son of God?
Jesus A:
If you will follow me, you will have salvation and be a son or daughter of God in the identical way that I am. I am the way, truth and life because I am the only son of God that lived a perfectly sinless life here on earth and therefore if you will follow (imitate) me, you will walk in obedience to God. This is why the apostle Paul said: Be ye followers of me, even as I (Paul speaking) also am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). It is not impossible for you to live a sinless life (Titus 2:12) just as I did. I was created by God as a mere man, just as you are. This is why I could be tempted with sin (Hebrews4:15). However, I did not sin. If I were God, I could not have been tempted with sin because the Bible says that God cannot be tempted with evil (James 1:13). I am not a mythological being. In other words, I was not both God and man as some erroneously teach. I am the first of all of God's creation (all the men He created) to walk in perfect obedience to Him. God blessed me to experience this spiritual rebirth. This is why the Bible calls me the firstborn of every created being (creature) (Colossians 1:15). You too, can be born again unto God if you will follow and obey my teachings which are truth. The Lord told us not to have any other god before Him (Exodus 20:3). There is only one God, the Father (Mark 12:29). If the Father is your God and I am your god also, you have two gods. I am the way the truth and the life by which man comes to God because the way of salvation was committed to me (St. John 14:6) to point the world to God, not to take His place. Will you commit idolatry in replacing the Father with a man, even a righteous one? In Luke 18:18-19 the Bible says: 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. God will send me back to receive all who have followed the truths God the Father taught me (St. John 8:28) Observe that scripture says that I had to be taught. Does God have to be taught? At that time all things will be made subject to God, myself included, according to the scripture of 1 Corinthians 15:23-24. Have I not spoken the truth, according to the Bible?
Jesus B:
The Bible does not say that I lead to the way, truth and life but rather that I am the way, truth, and life(St. John 14:6). This is not because of what I did which was lived a sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21) but because of who I am. The Bible calls me the Son of man and
the Son of God. Unlike most gentiles, including gentile believers, the Jews understood (and still do) the real meaning of these two titles. Son of man denotes that indeed I was a man. This is why I could not be omnipresent (the ability to be everywhere at the same
time), I experienced hunger when I fasted, could not go without rest and sleep, bled when injured and could be killed which is why I died from crucifixion. However, the Bible also teaches you that I am the Son of God. Although the title of son/s of God is also used to refer to the angels and the saints, the Jews understood that I plainly taught that I am the Son of God, having no earthly father and therefore equal with God the Father. Why did they understand this as equality with God? When there is only one parent, the offspring is identical to the parent. ...For I proceeded forth and came from God...St. John 8:42. They understood that I taught them as I teach you that I was God Himself wrapped in the flesh of a man. The scriptures say: 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 (St. John 5:18). You cannot follow my teachings and deny my divinity (who I am) at the same time because I teach you the truth that I am the Lord and that I lived on the earth incarnated. I was Jesus the man and I am Jesus the Lord. In Luke 18:18-19, as a man, I said that none is good except God. As the Lord I tell you that I am the good Shepherd (St. John 10:11). As Jesus the man, I hungered when I fasted (Mat.4:2). As Jesus the Lord, I multiplied a few small fish and few loaves of bread to feed the multitudes on more than one occasion. As a man, I required rest and sleep. As the Lord, when my disciples woke me from my sleep, I rose and commanded a great storm to cease, the waves to be calm, and they obeyed my rebuke. As a man, my temptation in the wilderness of the devil was real (Mat. 4:1-11, Heb. 4:15). As the Lord, I cannot be tempted with evil (James 1:13). As a man, I was not equal to God, nor ever attempted to be such (Phil. 2:5-6) and I taught that there is only one God. As God, I accepted and encouraged people to bow down and worship me (Mat. 8:2, 9:18, 14:33, 28:9, Mark 5:6, St. John 9:35-38). As a man, God the Father taught me (St. John 8:28). As the Lord, I myself am wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30). The Bible does indeed call me the firstborn/ firstbegotton or first child of God (Colossians 1:15). The Bible also says that I am the only-begotton Son of God (St. John 3:16). Why would a man be referred to as both the only and the firstborn? Indeed I am both and yet logically this does not make sense. Have you stopped to question whether you really understand what God's word means by the words firstborn and only begotton? He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
Which of the two statements represent false teachings about Jesus? What does it mean to be the Son of God when answering the question of, "Who was Jesus?" ...There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets(followers of false Christs) (Mat. 24:24). For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many (Mat. 24:5).
Unmasking False Teachings About Jesus
Part I-First Things First
In this lesson, which is divided into two parts, you will investigate the validity of the teachings of both Jesus A and B by comparing them to the scriptures of the Holy Bible. However, in order to do this, you must first have a rock solid understanding of
some very basic truths that the Bible teaches to protect you from being greatly confused by the many beliefs and doctrines concerning the question, "Who was Jesus?" They also guard against being deceived by those which are antichrist in reality but appear correct, logical and Bible based.
What are these truths? There are five very important things that must be thoroughly understood in order to truly take the Word of God as an invincible armor against even the most subtle deception concerning beliefs about the Son of God. They are:
1. Why does the Bible call Jesus the first begotten Son of God? (Hebrews 1:6)
2. Why does the Bible call Jesus the first begotten of the dead? (Revelation 1:5)
3. Why does the Bible call Jesus the only begotten Son of God? (St. John 3:16)
4. Why does the Bible call Jesus the firstborn of every creature? (Colossians 1:15)
5. Why do some scriptures (some of them are Jesus' own words) teach that Jesus was just a man, while others (again, some of them are Jesus' own words) teach that He was God?
Firstbegotten Son Of God (Hebrews 1:6)
Consider the fact that the Bible calls Jesus the first begotten (Hebrews 1:6) and the only begotten Son of God (St John 3:16). In the natural meaning of "first begotten", people understand this to refer to the first child born to his parents. In the natural meaning of "only begotten", people understand this to refer to the only child that is or ever was born to his parents. Using the natural meaning only of the two words, it would not make sense to call an only child, a first born child also. Is there a reason why the Bible specifically calls Jesus both? Most definitely. The teachings of the Bible are spiritual and will never be discerned (understood) using man's natural reasoning (1
Corinthians 2:14).
In man's eyes, "first begotten" and "only begotten" refer to the first and to the only child born to his/her parents respectively. In God's eyes, however, these terms have three meanings; one natural which also refers to the first and the only child born in the family and two that are spiritual which have absolutely nothing to do with when a person was born to his parents or to how many siblings he has. What are these other spiritual meanings? Let's find out. We read:
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn. (Exodus 4:22)
God refers to the entire nation of Israel, thousands of people, as His "firstborn" son. Obviously, all of these people were not born at the same time! And notice that all of them are called His "son" and not "sons", in the plural. God tells us the reason for
this. We read God's word to Israel:
For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth (Deuteronomy 14:2).
God called Israel his "firstborn son" to indicate the high status to which He exalted them above all other people on the earth. To be the firstborn is to be in a special category of high status and great blessing and privilege. This is exemplified in the natural which is why the first born child received a birthright that none of the rest of his siblings born after him received (Genesis 25:24-34, 43:33, 48:13-20). He enjoyed certain special rights and blessings because he was the first child born to his parents. However, in the spiritual meaning, the birthright does not automatically go to the child who was born first but rather to the child whose status God chooses of His own will, to raise. Israel was not the first nation to exist on the earth; and Noah, Enoch, Abraham and Isaac had a relationship with God before the children of Israel (Jacob) were ever born. In the natural, they are not the firstborn, but in the spiritual, in God's eyes, they are the firstborn son because God gives the status that He wants to give to whomever He wants, regardless of the time and/or order in which they were born. This must be understood to detect false teachings about Jesus and to answer the question, "Who was Jesus?"
Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebecca, however, his younger brother Jacob received the birthright with all of the blessings from God that were attached to it, as though he had been born first (Romans 9:10-11). Some will argue that Jacob stole Esau's birthright which indeed he did (Genesis 27:36). However, Jacob could never have stolen the natural birthright had Esau not willingly sold it to him (Genesis 25:31-34, Hebrews 12:16). The spiritual side of the birthright, nevertheless, was given to Jacob by God Himself (Romans 9:10-13). In the natural, Esau was the firstborn, but in the spiritual, Jacob was the firstborn by God's election. If you would like a thorough understanding of God's special election of Israel over all the other nations of the earth, you may want to read the article, "The Bible on Destiny and Fate."
Firstborn Of Every Creature (Colossians 1:15)
Likewise, Jesus, the man, was not the first man to be born on the earth, therefore, in the natural, He is not the firstborn of God's creatures. However, God places Him high above every creature that has ever been born or that ever will be and therefore He is the
firtstbegotten of all creatures. God is the One who chooses who is the firstborn. In other words, God is the One who determines a man's status in the earth and with Himself. His word answers the question, "Who was Jesus?" In reference to Jesus the man, (At this point we are speaking exclusively about Jesus the man, not Jesus the Lord, which we will come to). God declared:
...I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27)
Firstbegotten Of The Dead (Revelation 1:5)
We come back to the "first begotten" in order to teach the second spiritual meaning of the word. In addition to making reference to the special category or high status of someone, "first begotten" also, refers to the first person to do something. On the natural side, the first begotten is the first one to do what? He is the first to be born. The spiritual meaning also refers to him being the first to do something, not in reference to his birth, but rather in being the first to do or accomplish some activity or feat. This is why in addition to the Bible calling Jesus the "first begotten", He is also called the "first begotten of the dead" (Revelation 1:5). Jesus the man, is the very first man ever to rise from the dead to eternal life, never ever to die again.
Knowing this, Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion (power) over him (Romans 6:9).
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead... (Revelation 1:5). Jesus said:
I am he that liveth, and was dead: and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death (Revelation 1:18).
And now we ask, "But God raised from the dead, the son of the widow who served Elijah (1 Kings 17:18-24) and also Lazarus (St. John, chapter 11). Would not these people be the first to be raised from the dead?" Yes, they are the first to be resurrected from the dead. However, they are not the first to be resurrected from the dead NEVER TO DIE AGAIN. Paying attention to detail in when reading scripture is vital to preparing yourself to detect false teachings about Jesus so you may immediately reject them.
Who was Jesus the man? He was and is the first begotten of God because of His status above all the other sons of God, His body being the housing of God Himself who came to earth and dwelled among mankind (St. John 1:14, Matthew 1:23). He is the first begotten because He is the first son to be risen from the dead to eternal life (Rev. 1:5, 18, Rom. 6:9). He is the first begotten Son because He is the first Son of God to live a completely sinless life on the earth (1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5).
Only Begotten Son Of God (St John 3:16)
Obviously, "only begotten" is not referring to Jesus the man being the only son of God to be born. God has many sons including the angels (Job 1:6), the saints (St. John 1:12) and the entire nation of Israel (Exodus 4:22). As one of the spiritual meanings of "first
begotten" refers to the person being the first one to do something, likewise, "only begotten" refers to being the only Son of God to do something. (Again, at this point in our study, we are discussing Christ the man and not Christ, the Lord God. We are coming to that topic.)
Christ Jesus, the man, is the ONLY Son of God to whom God, the Father Himself turned and said "You are my Son, this day have I begotten (fathered) you (Hebrews 1:5). God has not, and will not turn and say these special words to any of the rest of his sons because they are not His only begotten.
Jesus the man, is the ONLY Son of God who is the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world (St. John 1:29). The other sons of God were granted sonship through the shed blood of the Lamb (Revelation 5:9). Therefore, Jesus is the ONLY Son whose blood washed away the sins of all of the rest of the sons.
Jesus is the ONLY Son of God that can give power to believers for them to become a son of God; without Him, we can never become the sons (and daughters) of God (St. John 1:12).
Most importantly, Jesus the man, is the ONLY Son of God who was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-23). God fathered Him in such a direct way that the role of a natural biological father was totally eliminated. God created the rest of us through our parents, but for Jesus the man, He was the only parent, preparing a body for the Lord to dwell in and placing him directly in the womb of Mary without any input from man.
1. Jesus is the ONLY Son of God that is the Master and Lord of all the rest of the sons. (St. John 13:13).
2. Jesus is the ONLY Son of God who is the Savior and whose name is above the names of the other sons as He died for them. (Acts 4:12)
3. Jesus is the ONLY Son who sits on the right hand of the Father (Luke 24:50-51, Acts 1:9-11, 7:55).
4. Jesus is the ONLY Son who is worshipped by the other sons as well as by all of the angels (Matthew 8:2, 9:18, 14:33, 28:9, Mark 5:6, Hebrews 1:6-8, St John 9:35-38).
This list could go on and on, but you should by now, have understanding of the truths being taught to answer the question, "Who was Jesus?" for yourself. You are also preparing to guard against false teachings about Jesus.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18).
...the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20).
Wherefore when he (Jesus, the man) cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not (do not want), but a body hast thou prepared me. (Hebrews 10:5)
All of the other sons of God have natural biological parents.
Will we say that Adam's creation is like that of Jesus the man, since he also did not have a biological mother or father? No, because what does the scripture say about Adam's creation?
And God said, Let us make man in our image... (Genesis 1:26).
For Adam was first formed, then Eve (1 Timothy 2:13).
The scripture of Genesis makes reference to mankind in general of which Adam is just the first member. The scripture of 1 Timothy says that Adam was formed. It refrains from the use of the word "fathered" to avoid the affectionate idea and thoughts that come with the use of the word "fathered". Parents who love their children do not refer to them as their "formations", or even as their "offspring", but rather, they call them their "children", "kids", "sons and daughters." The use of the word "offspring" is restricted to referring to the scientific side of a parent-child relationship and therefore its use is avoided in a parent's normal way of referring to his or her child which reveals the affection of the relationship. Have you ever heard anyone say, "He went to far when he hit his offspring?" Instead, we say, "He went to far when he hit his child." The question, "Who was Jesus?" must be based on His eternal status which in turn explains how He was able to do the works He performed when He walked the Earth.
Please don't fail to understand how great God's love is for all of His sons and daughters. He demonstrated and proved His love for the entire world in giving His only begotten Son to die for sinful man even while they were His enemies (Romans 5:10, 1 John 4:10). Although the Christian's walk with God must be sound in his or her fear of Him as the Lord (2 Corinthians 7:1), it should also be fueled by love for God and being loved by Him (Romans 8:35). The eigth chapter of Romans teaches us that in spite of the tribulation and suffering that many sons of God endure for their obedience to the only begotten Son, this is never to overshadow the relationship with God which is to be an unbreakable bond of love. The sons of God who come to know the Only Begotten in the fellowship of His sufferings will someday reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). The sons of God are joint heirs with the Only Begotten (Romans 8:17). However, the sons of God will never and can never have a sonship that is identical to the Only Begotten. The status of "only begotten" belongs to only one Son of God, Jesus Christ.
The false teachings about Jesus are revealed in the claims made by Jesus A. In his opening statement he said, "If you will follow me, you will have salvation and be a son or daughter of God in the identical way that I am." We have our first exposure of a lie. All that contradicts the word of God is a lie, which has a purpose--to
deceive. This first statement made by Jesus A is very disturbing because it teaches that all the sons of God have a sonship that is identical and therefore equal to that of the Only Begotten Son. This lifts a mere man to the level of the Only Begotten and lowers the Only Begotten to the level of a mere man. This one statement is just the beginning of the false teachings about Jesus being promoted.
Who Was Jesus? He Is and Was God.
We read:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (St. John 1:1).
Just a little further down in the same chapter (one) of the book of St John, we read:
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 (St. John 1:14).
The Word was God and the Word was made flesh, therefore, God Himself was made flesh. God was made a man.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him (St. John 1:18).
The man that God was made, lived on earth as the only begotten Son of the Father. Notice here another confirmation of the plurality of God.
...and the Word was with God (St John 1:1).
Scripture does not say that God was with Himself. It says that God was with God. Obviously, God is God, and scripture says that the Word is God also, and we read that the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God, is also God (Acts 5:3-4). Does this not equal God in three persons? One of the persons of the Godhead, the Word, was made flesh (became a man) and lived on earth among man. Does that mean that He ceased to be the Word, God? No, it does not. Does that mean that he was not a man? Scripture plainly says he was also a man, being made flesh, and living among the people as the only-begotten of the Father. Why would we say otherwise? These truths cannot be dismissed when answering the question, "Who was Jesus?" They can't be dismissed when confronted with false teachings about Jesus.
Who was this man who was the Word (God) in the flesh? What was His name? The scriptures say that the Word that was made flesh was life and the Light of the world (St John 1:4-5). We then read:
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light (St John 1:4-8).
Of whom did this man named John bear witness? Was this not John the Baptist? Of whom did John the Baptist bear witness?
The next day John seeth JESUS coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (St John 1:29).
In the beginning Jesus was called the Word and God. The fact that He was made flesh for a period of time to live among mankind does not cause Him to cease being the Lord God. Is there any more scriptural proof that He was truly man and yet truly God? The Bible repeats this truth over and over and in direct, plain language.
In the book of Hebrews, we see the Father Himself calling His firstbegotten, God.
...when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he (God) saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever... (Hebrews 1:6-8).
Jesus is again called God in the following scripture:
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life (1 John 5:20).
Again, in the first chapter of St. John, we read that the Word is the Creator of the world. God is the Creator of the world and God is the Word. At this point in our study, you should be able to answer, "Who is Jesus?" You should also be able to quickly detect many of the false teachings about Jesus, but there's more if you keep reading.
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. All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made. He was in the world, and the world was made by him... (St
John 1:1-3,10).
To further help you to grasp this most vital truth, you may want to meditate upon the following pairs of scriptures which focus on the contrast between Jesus, the man and Jesus, the Lord God, also known as the Son of God.
1. Jesus the man hungered when he did not eat (Matthew 4:2). Jesus the Lord, on more than one occasion, fed thousands with a few fish and few loaves of bread (Matthew 15:32-38, Mark 6:36-44, 8:1-9). (For an in-depth study on how the miracle of the feeding of the multitudes by Jesus is not like when God multiplied food for Elijah for the widow (1 Kings 17:14)) - Article to be published on this site.
2. Jesus the man wept for his friend Lazarus when he died. Jesus the Lord simply commanded that he come back to life from the dead (St John 11:1-45).
3. Jesus the man, on one occasion, was so tired that he was not even awaken by the storm that raged as he and his disciples crossed the sea of Galilee in their boat. Jesus the Lord stood up, rebuked the wind and commanded the sea to be still, and they obeyed (Mark 4:35-41)! Psalm 107:23-31 tells us that it is the Lord who speaks to the sea and it's waves, and the wind, and they obey his command so that men will see His wonders and give Him the praise that is His.
4. Jesus the man could be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 4:15). Jesus the Lord does not tempt any man and cannot Himself be tempted with evil (James 1:13).
5. Jesus the man was the humble servant of mankind (Luke 22:27, Mark 10:45). Jesus the Lord is served by mankind and He reminds us that He is the Master and we are the servants (Matthew 23:10, St John 13:13-16)
6. Jesus the man was made and placed in the womb of the virgin Mary who, in the natural, would be his mother. He was born and had to grow up like any other child (first part of the books of Matthew and Luke). Jesus the Lord created Mary. He created the womb in which He developed (St. John 1:3, 10). He has no beginning nor ending of days and no biological mother or father (Hebrews 7:3).
7. Jesus the man prayed to God (Mark 14:36, St. John 14:16, 17-20). Jesus the Lord hears our prayers, is the only Mediator between the Father and us when we pray which we do in His name and He taught us how to pray. (Matthew 6:5-13).
8. Jesus the man, when called the Good Master, responded: Why do you call me good? None is good except God (Matthew 19:16-17). Jesus the Lord, however, says: I am the Good Shepherd (St. John 10:11) (In-depth study on the passage of Matthew 19:16-22,
coming.
9. Jesus the man wanted to be delivered from being crucified (Mark 14:35-36). Jesus the Lord's will cannot be separated from that of the Father and the Holy Spirit with whom He is One (St John 17:21).
10. Jesus the man called those who do the will of the Father his brethren (Matthew 12:50). Jesus the Lord tells His brethren to do His will and what He says as they call Him Lord (Luke 6:46-47).
11. Jesus the man said: I can of mine own self do nothing... (St. John 5:30). Jesus the Lord said: Behold (Look), I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy...(Luke 10:19). He also said: But that ye may know that
the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. (Mark 2:10-11). Who can forgive sins but God only? (Mark 2:7).
12. Jesus the man said, "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." (St. John 5:31) Jesus the Lord said, "I am one that bear witness of myself." (St John 8:18). We know that it is a true witness because we read, "This is he that came by water and blood,
even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Remember we learned that this is God who was made flesh),
and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7-8).
13. Jesus the man died by crucifixion (Matthew 28:50, Mark 15:37). Jesus the Lord inhabits eternity and cannot ever die (Isaiah 57:15).
14. Jesus the man was raised from the dead by God the Father (Romans 10:9). Jesus the Lord raised Himself, by His own power, from the dead (St John 10:17-18).
15. Jesus the man had to be taught by God (St. John 8:28). Jesus the Lord Himself, is wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24).
16. Jesus the man taught Israel saying: Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord. (Mark 12:29), thereby acknowledging that the Father was his God also. He also taught us that true worshipers must worship the Father in truth and in spirit (St John 4:23-24).
Jesus the Lord teaches us that He is One with the Father (St John 17:21). Can we worship the Father in spirit and in truth and exclude Him? No, we cannot. Remember that Jesus never failed to correct wrong behavior or wrong thinking. He corrected His apostle Peter (Matthew 16:23). He corrected the woman whose comments bordered on worship of His mother Mary (Luke 11:27). He sharply corrected the moneychangers who were guilty of turning God's house into a den of thieves (Mark 11:15-17). Notice that there is no correction of the men who worshiped Him, even while He was wrapped in flesh of a man which did not in any way cancel His divinity. We see Jesus being worshiped in Matthew 8:2, 9:18, 14:33, 28:9, Mark 5:6, and St John 9:35-38. Let's now examine the statements of Jesus A and Jesus B and see which one is the impostor.
Who Was Jesus? - Part II
Now let's compare the teachings of Jesus A and Jesus B with the Bible and see which put forth false teachings about Jesus and which one spoke truth.
Jesus A
STATEMENT: If you will follow me, you will have salvation and be a son or daughter of God in the identical way that I am.
EVALUATION: In part I we learned that Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God because He is the only one whose sonship is unique. It is not like the sonship of any of the other sons of God.
STATEMENT: I was created by God as a mere man, just as you are.
EVALUATION: In part I we learned that the Bible plainly and forcefully declares the divinity of Jesus. Our answer to the question, "Who was Jesus?" must include the truth that He was God.
STATEMENT: If I were God, I could not have been tempted with sin because the Bible says that God cannot be tempted with evil (James 1:13).
EVALUATION: Notice the subtlety of this statement which attempts to use a Biblical truth to twist logic into a lie to make it appear true. The lack of understanding that Jesus was a man and is also God keeps the door open to this kind of satanic reasoning. You may review part I, the section contrasting Jesus the man with Jesus the Lord.
STATEMENT: I was not both God and man as some erroneously teach. This is why the Bible calls me the firstborn of every creature (Colossians 1:15).
EVALUATION: In part I we learned the true meaning of the Bible's reference to Jesus as the 'Firstborn' of every creature.
STATEMENT: If the Father is your God and I am your god also, you have two gods. I am the way, the truth and the life by which man comes to God because the way of salvation was committed to me (St John 14:6) to point the world to God, not to take His place.
EVALUATION: Again, the lack of understanding that Jesus was a man and is also God keeps the door open to this kind of satanic reasoning. You may review this teaching in part I.
STATEMENT: In Luke 18:18-19 the Bible says: 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.
EVALUATION: Here, Jesus A is implying that if Jesus is God, He would not have given such an answer. You may review part I, section entitled: He Was Man. He Is God. which contrasts Jesus the man with Jesus the Lord. Also, coming soon, is a lesson dedicated specifically to this passage of Luke 18:18-19). Please watch for it.
STATEMENT: Observe that scripture says that I had to be taught. Does God have to be taught?
EVALUATION: Review the section of part I that contrasts Jesus the man with Jesus the Lord.
STATEMENT: All things will be made subject to God, myself included, according to the scripture of 1 Corinthians 15:23-25).
EVALUATION: Jesus A is again attempting to deceive through man's logic and misunderstanding of the scriptures. He is saying that if Jesus was God and therefore, the Father's equal, why does 1 Corinthians 15:23-25 say that he will be made subject to God?
Remember that in part I we learned that Jesus was fully man and is God and that the one does not cancel out the other. Jesus the man, indeed, will be made subject to the Word, who is God, and who he was before he was made flesh. He will be made subject to Himself. He will also be made subject to God the Father and to God the Holy Ghost. These three are the one God to whom he will be made subject and of whom He is. Review part I which contrasts Jesus the man with Jesus the Lord.
The Bible provides clear and consistent answers to the question, "Who was Jesus?" It also exposes all false teachings about Jesus. Finally, we examine the scripture of Hebrews 1:4:
Being made so much better than the angels, as he (Jesus) hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
"Made", has nothing to do with the making of the physical body of Jesus the man, in which Jesus the Lord dwelled. Hebrews 1:4 is not saying that his physical body was made much better than the bodies of the angels. First of all, angels do not have physical bodies, they are spirits (Hebrews 1:13-14). Second, the Bible tells us that the man part of Jesus, like any other man, was made a "little lower than the angels" (Hebrews 2:6-7).
Our scripture in question (Hebrews 1:4) speaks of the redemptive work of Jesus at Calvary. The name of Jesus is what is made far superior to any other name forever. God's name speaks of who he is. This is why he will not excuse those who takes his name in vain (Exodus 20:7). This is why one of God's Old Testament names is the capitalized and proper
name of Holy (Isaiah 57:15). Mankind was not, is not, and cannot be redeemed through any work of any angel, who, like man, are themselves, created beings.
The scripture says that Jesus obtained a "more excellent name than they (the angels)". Only in his name is
salvation (Acts 4:10-12), yes to the promises of God (2 Corinthians 19-20), and all the power of heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). Only at his name, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). Only in him is the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9).
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11).
Who was Jesus? He certainly was not anyone who matches the description given by false Jesus A. What are some of the false teachings about Jesus? Review the statements of Jesus A.
Jesus B
Statement: Please reread His entire statement.
Evaluation: His Entire Statement reflects is in perfect agreement with biblical scripture.
Who Was Jesus? He Matches the Description Given by Jesus B
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices (schemes/tactics) (2 Corinthians 2:11).
We are to be keenly aware of the numerous tactics of Satan that are exposed in the Bible. These are tactics that God commands all of His people to recognize so they may avoid being deceived and ensnared. The schemes of Satan against which you are warned by
the Bible are to give you a standard by which you will recognize every single erroneous teaching, antichrist doctrines, beliefs and the unholy so that you will not be led astray.
Please understand, however, that even when we know these devices of Satan that are exposed in the Bible; our knowledge will in no way cancel our need to rely on the Holy Spirit for protection from the deception of evil. Satan does not easily give up. The Word of God makes the devil flee (Matthew 4:11), but he doesn't go away to stay. If he cannot deceive you through demonic doctrines or teachings, he will continue looking for other ways to destroy you.
...Your adversary the devil, as a roaring (angry) lion, walketh about, seeking (looking for) whom he may devour (eat/destroy). (1 Peter 5:8)
If he can't destroy you by false doctrine, he will try other things. This often includes his use of other people who do not know God. Unless God chooses to reveal them, we do not know the thoughts and intentions of others, but God does (Hebrews 4:12). King
Herod did not attempt to destroy the wise men through satanic doctrine, nevertheless, he was plotting their destruction, but God warned them and they did well to listen, had they not, we do not know what end they would have met.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way (Matthew 2:12).
Joseph, being warned of God not to return to Judea, instead went to settle down in the land of Galilee (Matthew 2:22).
As we grow in God's Word, we should grow in our dependence on the guidance of His Spirit. To the world, we are to be strong, mature and wise spiritual soldiers of the Lord Jesus who lives in us and whose coming was for the purpose of destroying the works of the
devil (1 John 3:8). However, to our Lord, we are to be as little children (Mark 10:15). We are to be poor in spirit, having no reliance upon ourselves. Those who trust in themselves cannot trust in God also. It is not the self reliant but the poor in spirit
who are said to be blessed (Matthew 5:3). This does not mean that you do not use common sense, and of course you are to put into practice, for your protection, the truths that God teaches you. Nevertheless, you are never to loose sight of the great need you have to stay close and follow the voice of the Lord. We will never be clever enough to protect ourselves independently of God.
Having the knowledge to biblically answer the question, "Who was Jesus?" is essential to your spiritual survival and growth. Knowing the Bible well enough to detect false teachings about Jesus will is vital to effective evangelism.
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