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The
Doctrine of Christ
Chapter 6.
Readings from the
Inspired Word of God
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for rebuking error, for correcting faults,
and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
fully qualified and equipped to do every good work." (2 Tim.
3:16, 17, KJV and TEV)
The following Scriptural references are a compilation of numerous
Biblical texts which state Jesus was the SON of God—not God
Himself. The fervent prayer is offered that this study will be a
valuable aid to those seeking to know the true identity of our Lord
and Master, Christ Jesus. Weigh the evidence with Bible in hand and
a prayerful honest heart. By the Lord’s grace, you may come to see
the facts long hidden by controlled theology. We are no longer a
"voice crying in the wilderness" on the "doctrine of
Christ." Many voices are now being raised together with clear
Bible readings to depict the harmony of the Bible on the nature of
the man Christ Jesus.
Please notice that the verses cited also contain typical
Trinitarian "proof" scriptures, as well as those of our
own persuasion. Most of the quotations are self-explanatory when one
realizes the simple truth, that Jesus was God’s only begotten son—a
Lord and a god—above all angels, who sits at the right hand of
God. This should become obvious as one objectively reads the
presentations below in their entirety.
Italicized words indicate the author’s emphasis to help the
reader "key in" on the main points. Sometimes a brief
comment is supplied to emphasize the scriptural point of logic.
"A good honest heart" is the prerequisite of every true
Christian. (See Luke 8:15, RSV.) In Jesus’ time, many did not
follow their hearts, because they asked, "Have any of the
rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?" (John 7:48). Of
yet another class we read, "Many believed on him; but because
of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put
out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the
praise of God" (John 12:42, 43). We must be honest to God and
to our own hearts be true.
All the citations are from the King James Bible.
Exodus 33:20 "And he said, Thou canst not see my
face: for there shall no man see me, and live." (Many saw Jesus’
face and lived; therefore, how could Jesus be God?) Compare John
5:36.
Psalms 110:1 "The Lord [Yahweh or Jehovah] said unto
my [David’s] Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine
enemies thy footstool." (We note here that the instructions
were given by the Father [Jehovah] to the Son [David’s Lord]; this
order is never reversed in Scripture, with the Father always
preeminent. See p. 7 for comments on Matt. 22:42-43, wherein Jesus
discourses with the Jews on the meaning of Ps. 110:1.)
Proverbs 8:22-30 "The Lord possessed [created, see
Strong’s] me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth
was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were
no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were
settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet he had
not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust
of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set
a compass upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds
above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: when he gave
to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his
commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: then I
was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always before him." See Rev. 3:14.
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a
son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his
name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God [El,
Strong’s, #410, ‘strength, mighty, Almighty,’ applicable ‘to
any deity’], The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."
(Christ is appropriately called "Father" from the
standpoint of his becoming the second Adam—lifegiver to the race—and
"source of eternal salvation" (1 Cor. 15:47; Heb. 5:9).
Christ is no longer a branch (receiver) but the "root"
(giver of life) in the regeneration (Rev. 22:16; Matt. 19:28).
Isaiah 42:8 "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my
glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven
images." (God does not give His glory to another. In contrast,
Jesus invites the saints to share his glory as a bride.) See Romans
6:3-6; 8:17, 18; Col. 3:4; 1 John 3:2.
Dan. 7:13 "I saw in the night visions, and, behold,
one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to
the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."
Matt. 3:17 "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (We note that it
was the Father, speaking from heaven, who indicated His good
pleasure in His Son upon the earth. Jesus always strove to be
pleasing to his Father, to carry out His will, and to receive His
commendation and approval. The Scriptures never reverse this
relationship, always giving the Father the preeminence.)
Matt. 4:1
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." (James 1:13 states
"God cannot be tempted!") See Luke 4:1, 2, 13.
Matt. 10:40 "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and
he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."
Matt. 16:16 "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou
art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matt 17:5 "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye
him."
Matt. 18:10 "Take heed that ye despise not one of
these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels
do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."
Matt. 20:23 "And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink
indeed of my cup . . . but to sit on my right hand, and on my left,
is not mine to give but it shall be given to them for whom it is
prepared of my Father." (Jesus lacked authority in this
matter.)
Matt. 24:36 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man,
no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (This
demonstrates that God and Jesus are not equal in knowledge!) See
also John 7:16; 12:50; 17:8.
Matt. 26:39 "And he went a little farther, 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." (This verse implies Jesus had one will and his Father
had another. Two different wills imply two different beings!) See
also Matt. 26:42; John 5:19-22.
Matt. 27:46 "Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
Eli, Eli, La-ma sa-bach-tha-ni? that is to say, My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?" ( If Jesus were God . . . had he
forsaken himself? Is this logical? Clearly, Jesus was speaking to
another being, his Father.)
Matt. 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
(Jesus was given power not previously possessed.)
Mark 1:24 "What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus
of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art,
the Holy One of God." (The unclean spirit knew Jesus was not
God but rather the Holy One of God.)
Mark 12:36 "For David himself said by the Holy Ghost
[Spirit], The Lord [Jehovah] said to my [David’s] Lord, Sit thou
on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool."
(Hebrews 1:13 identifies the Lord Jesus as the one who sits on the
right hand of the Lord God.)
Luke 2:49 "And he said unto them, How is it that ye
sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s
business?"
Luke 2:52 "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature,
and in favour with God and man." (How and why should Jesus
increase in favor with himself?)
John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the only
begotten Son [many manuscripts read "only begotten God"],
which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
John 3:16 "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." (The following verses
confirm that Jesus died for our sins! Rom. 5:10; Romans 14:9; Acts
3:15; Col. 1:15, 18; Rev. 1:5, 18; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 4:9, 14; Rev.
5:9)
John 3:34, 35 "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the
words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The
Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his
hand."
John 5:26 "For as the Father hath life in himself; so
hath he given to the Son to have life in himself."
John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I
hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own
will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (Jesus
was seeking another being’s will—not his own!)
John 5:37 "And the Father himself, which hath sent
me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any
time, nor seen his shape."
John 6:38 "For I came down from heaven, not to do
mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (Two wills—two
beings.)
John 7:16-18 "My doctrine is not mine, but his that
sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh
of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that
sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."
John 8:17-19 "It is also written in your law, that
the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of
myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said
they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know
me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my
Father also." (Note there was no third witness—only the
Father and the Son. Jesus omits the holy Spirit. Why?)
John 8:42-44
"Jesus said unto them, If God were your
Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God;
neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand
my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your
father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."
John 10:29 "My Father, which gave them me, is greater
than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s
hand. I and my Father are one. (Note John 17:21, 22.) Then the Jews
took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good
works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do
ye stone me? 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. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your
law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word
of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom
the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou
blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?" (This would
have been the perfect place to state that he was, indeed, God the
Father.)
John 14:1 "Ye believe in God, believe also in
me." (An unnecessary injunction for those who believe in the
Trinity.)
John 14:20 "At that day ye shall know that I am in my
Father, and ye in me, and I in you." (Would this make Jesus’
disciples a part of the Trinity? Shown here is the oneness of the
family of God—not a oneness of person, but oneness of purpose and
will.) Compare John 17:21-22.
John 14:28 "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." (How can the Father be greater than Jesus, if Jesus and his
Father are equal? Admittedly, some Trinitarians recognize Christ was
inferior in flesh. Even so, then his sacrifice on the cross was less
than God. How could Jesus in flesh be "co-equal" with
God?) See 1 Cor. 3:23; 11:3.
John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent."
John 17:11 "And now I am no more in the world, but
these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep
through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may
be one, as we are." (If Christ’s true followers are to be
"one" as are God and Jesus, could that oneness be anything
more than "oneness" of purpose and will? Could we be a
part of the Trinity? See also John 17:21-23.)
John 20:17 "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." (Jesus had a God and brethren. God has no God
and no brethren!) See Eph. 1:17; Rev. 3:12; Mark 15:34; 1 Cor. 15:24
(Rotherham’s).
Acts 3:15 "And killed the Prince of life, whom God
hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses." (Isn’t
it logical to conclude the one that was dead is separate from the
One who raised him from the dead?) See 1 Cor. 15:12-21; Acts 2:24;
5:30; 7:56; 13:34 and Col. 2:12.
Acts 7:55, 56 "But he [Stephen], being full of the
Holy Ghost [Spirit], looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the
glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said,
Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the
right hand of God." (God and Jesus are twice depicted
separately. Stephen was "full of the Holy Spirit" but did
not see the holy Spirit. God and Jesus were not everywhere either,
but Jesus was "standing on the right hand of God" in
heaven.)
Acts 12:22
"And the people gave a shout, saying, It
is the voice of a god [theos], and not of a man." (King
Herod was referred to as "[a] god"— "a" is
supplied by translators and is not in the text. This is the same
Greek word for god [theos] which in other places is used of
Christ. It is defined as "gods, objects of worship,
judges," and is used variously to depict Jehovah, Satan, the
saints, and idols, as well as Christ.) See also Acts 28:6—in
reference to Paul.
Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost [Spirit] hath made
you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased
with his own blood." (God is a Spirit and Spirits do not have
flesh and blood [Luke 24:39]. Rotherham reads: "With the blood
of his own [son]"; Revised Standard Version, footnote:
"With the blood of his own son"; Barclay: "At the
price of the blood of his own One.") See also Marshall’s
Diaglott and Concordant.
Rom. 8:11 "But if the Spirit of him that raised up
Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the
dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that
dwelleth in you." See Rom. 4:24; 7:4.
Rom. 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God,
and joint-heirs with Christ." (Could Christ be his own heir?
How, then, could we be joint-heirs with him?)
Rom. 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might
be the firstborn among many brethren."
Rom. 10:9 "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."
1 Cor. 8:5, 6 "For though there be that are called
gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and
lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are
all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are
all things, and we by him." (All things are OF the Father and
BY the son. Jesus is the agent of God.) Compare Heb. 1:1, 2; John
1:2, 3; Col. 1:16, 17; Gen. 1:26.
1 Cor. 11:3 "But I would have you know, that the head
of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and
the head of Christ is God." (God, Christ, man and woman are all
separate entities.)
1 Cor. 15:27, 28 "For he [God] hath put all things
under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it
is manifest that he [God] is excepted, which did put all things
under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall
the Son also himself be subject unto him [God] that put all things
under him, that God may be all in all." (These verses
distinguish two separate beings: namely, the Father and His son. How
could God place all things under His feet to subdue all things, and
then later become subject to Himself? This defies reason.)
Eph. 1:20-22 "Which he wrought in Christ, when he
raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the
heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might,
and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world,
but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his
feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the
church."
Eph. 3:9, 10
"And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world
hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the
intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly
places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of
God." (If Jesus was God incarnate, what possible reason would
God have had to create all things from the beginning of time by
Jesus Christ?)
Eph. 4:6 "One God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all." (One God and Father of
"all"—the "all" includes Jesus.)
Philip. 2:5, 6 "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." (Revised Standard Version:
"Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality
with God a thing to be grasped." Can anyone try to be equal
with himself? Rather, Jesus did not strive by vainglory to grasp God’s
preeminence.)
Philip. 2:8 "And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death." (If Jesus
were God, who would God have to become obedient to? No one!
Therefore, this must be another entity, namely, his only begotten
Son, clearly distinguishable from the Heavenly Father.)
Col. 1:13-17 "Who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness
of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of
every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in
heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and
by him all things consist."
1 Tim. 2:5-6 "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." (A mediator is one who
endeavors to reconcile two opposing parties. Could Christ be God and
still mediate between God and men? Ransom here means a
"corresponding price." How could a God-man be the exact
equivalent of the perfect man Adam?)
1 Tim. 3:16 "And without controversy great is the
mystery of godliness: God [hos, who] was manifest in the
flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
(Nearly all ancient MSS, and all the versions have "He
who," [referring to Christ] instead of "God," in this
passage. Sir Isaac Newton wrote a paper stating that this verse is a
false reading. The Concordant Bible, p.18: "In the Sinaitic
there can be no doubt that it originally read ‘who.’ A late
corrector has added ‘God’ above the line.")
Heb. 1:2-5 "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by
his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he
made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the
express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of
his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than
the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name
than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou
art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to
him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?" (If Jesus was God,
how could he have "by inheritance obtain[ed] a more excellent
name?" Clearly, one does not inherit that which he already
possesses!)
Heb. 1:8, 9 "But unto the Son he [the Father] saith,
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness
is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and
hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy [Jesus’] God, hath
anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."
(What "fellows" was Jesus anointed above? Two Gods are
involved here—the greater, Yahweh, anointing the lesser, Jesus.
This exaltation of Jesus takes place after he demonstrates he
"loved righteousness" and "hated iniquity." No
one contests that Jesus is a God. Remember, the greater always
anoints the lesser, as is here demonstrated.)
Heb. 2:10 "For it became him, for whom are all
things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto
glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings." (God the Father has always been perfect and did
not require the experience of suffering to crystallize His
character. Jesus, by way of contrast, did require this development.)
Heb. 5:7, 8 "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 he suffered." (Again, Father vs. Son, clear-cut
distinctions are very evident. The Father did not need to learn
obedience; His Son did. In his distress, Jesus prayed to his Father
for strength and grace; it is never the other way around.)
Heb. 9:14 "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?"
(If Christ was God incarnate, is it reasonable that he should offer
himself to himself?)
Heb. 9:24 "For Christ is not entered into the holy
places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into
heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."
(Jesus functions as our Advocate before the Father.)
Heb. 11:17-19 "By faith Abraham, when he was tried,
offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up
his only begotten son, of whom it is said, That in Isaac shall thy
seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even
from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure."
(In this scenario, Abraham was a type of God, and Isaac represented
Christ. Abraham thus pictured God’s willingness to sacrifice His
Son, Christ, to provide the ransom (John 3:16). Just as in the
figure Isaac was not Abraham, so Christ must be distinguished from
God as a separate being.) See Gal. 3:29; 4:28.
James 1:13 "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." (If Jesus was tempted, as in Matthew 4:1,
and God cannot be tempted, clearly they must be two distinct and
separate entities.)
1 Pet. 1:19-21 "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."
2 Pet. 1:17 "For he received from God the Father
honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the
excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased." (Whose voice was this? Was God pleased with Himself
or His Son?)
1 John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father
hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."
(We are sons of God, NOT the sons of Jesus. Note carefully this
distinction. We are brothers of Jesus, NOT of God. The Church is
never referred to as God’s brethren! Hebrews 2:11, 12; Romans
8:29).
1 John 4:2, 3
"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:
every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh
is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of
anti-Christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now
already is it in the world." (Could Christ in the flesh be
half-human and half-divine? This is what Cerinthus, a heretical
teacher in the early Church, taught! Does the Trinity come
dangerously close to this teaching? Isn’t this a strong basis for
doubt of the Trinity?)
1 John 4:12-16 "No man hath seen God at any time. If
we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected
in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he
hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that
the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever
shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and
he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to
us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and
God in him." (Men did see Jesus, but not God. Those who love
one another in Christ are privileged to share a similar relationship
with God as does Jesus. Do you confess Jesus was God or the Son of
God?)
1 John 5:7-8
"For there are three that bear record
[in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these
three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth,] the
spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in
one." (Words in brackets are spurious! They are not retained by
any manuscripts of earlier date than the seventh century and are not
in the Revised Version. One hundred and twelve of the oldest
manuscripts do not retain them. Trinity thus loses its supposed main
Scriptural support.)
Rev. 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God
gave unto him [Jesus Christ], to shew unto his servants things which
must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel
unto his servant John."
Rev. 1:5, 6 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince
of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests
unto God and his Father."
Rev. 2:27 "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron;
as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as
I received of my Father." (Jesus’ kingdom authority is
received from the Father.)
Rev. 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar
in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will
write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my
God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my
God: and I will write upon him my new name." (Jesus, in
resurrected glory, retains his relationship to his God and Father,
highly honored but always subordinate.)
Rev. 3:14 "And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of the creation of God." (Could God be
the beginning of his own creation? Clearly, you cannot create
yourself! Refer to Col. 1:15 and then compare God not having a
beginning. Ps. 41:13; 90:1-2.)
Rev. 3:21
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit
with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with
my Father in his throne." (Jesus did not have a throne
co-eternal with the Father. Only after overcoming was he enthroned,
and thus also will it be with his followers.)
Rev. 5:12 "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and
strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." (You receive
power, etc., from another, not from yourself! Why or how could you
give yourself something you already possess?)
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