Thursday, January 2, 2014

Jesus is not the Almighty God

Trinitarian belief is that Jesus is the Almighty God.  Throughout scripture God (Yahweh) is called Almighty God. In the book of Job it mentions Yahweh as the Almighty thirty-one times. Nowhere in scripture is Jesus ever called Almighty God.

Almighty means having absolute power; all-powerful; all controlling.  El (God) Shaddai (Almighty).  This means that Almighty God does not need to depend on anyone for strength and energy.  He is the source of power, self-sufficient.  Thus, other mighty ones get their power, energy, and authority from the Almighty God.  It is impossible for an Almighty God to have a God above him, otherwise the title and term is pointless.  

Question: If Jesus is Almighty God, why does he have a God above him?  

Jesus says in John 20:17,
“Don’t hold on to me!  I have not yet gone to the Father.  But tell my disciples that I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God.”   
Question: How is it possible for Jesus to have a Father and God if he is the Almighty God?


While Jesus was on the cross he cried out, 
"My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?"
Questions:
  1. If Jesus is the Almighty God who is self sufficient, as well as all-powerful, why is he crying to another God? 
  2. Is the Almighty God praying to Himself?
Question: Can the Almighty God die?

No.  Jesus was a mortal being and died.  He ceased to exist for three days until Almighty God raised him from the dead.  Jesus the Messiah is the firstborn from the dead, raised to immortality!

By making Jesus the "God man," having a "double nature," the above questions are ignored. Instead, one must indulge to philosophical thinking and explanations.  As someone has well stated,
The doctrine of the double nature of Christ, like that of the trinity, is a doctrine of inference. Neither doctrine is declared in any verse, nor can they be expressed in the language of scripture.  Scattered verses are assembled in quasi-syllogistic form, inferences are drawn from newly-created contexts, and it is assumed that the Messiah is both a mortal man and the almighty God.  I know of no allusion in the Bible to the doctrine of the Two Natures, either with or without modification.  (The Double Nature of Christ, Snedeker, 1998, pp. 6-70)
The trinitarian belief is full of contradictions when put to test in light of scripture. For example, in Rev. 1:6 we read,
He [Jesus] made us kings and priests unto his God and Father."
Question: If Jesus the Messiah, even after his resurrection, has a God and Father, how is it possible for him to be Almighty God?

Trinity doctrine is not based on scripture, but is simply rooted in philosophy. Revelation chapter 3 ought to put the trinity assumption of the "God-man" doctrine to rest as well.  Jesus repeatedly says in that chapter, "before my God," "temple of my God," "name of my God," "city of my God," "from my God."

While Jesus was on earth and after his resurrection, he never ceased to call God (Yahweh) his God and Father, thus he cannot be the Almighty God.

In Hebrews 1:9 it says concerning Christ,
Therefore God, even your God, has anointed you."
Questions:
  1. Who is greater in in authority; the one who anoints or the one being anointed? 
  2.  Is God anointing Himself? 
  3. Can Almighty God be given anything he doesn't already possess?  
Jesus says in Matt. 28:18,
All authority hath been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Questions: 
  1. Who gave Jesus this authority?  
  2. Does Almighty God who has all authority have to give Himself authority?
In Philippians 2:9 we read,
This is why God has highly exalted him [Jesus] the name that is above every other name.
Questions: 
  1. If Jesus the Messiah is the Almighty God, can he be exalted to a superior position than what he already owns?  
  2. Can Almighty God be given a name that he doesn't already possess?   
This just shows that the Messiah, God's Son, can be exalted by his God (Yahweh), as well as be given a name above every other name by his God (Yahweh).

No other God and Savior

In Isaiah it says,
You are My witnesses, says Jehovah; and My servant whom I have elected; that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed; nor shall any be after Me. I, I am Jehovah; and there is no Savior besides Me. (Isa. 43:10-11)
What Yahweh is talking about is that there are no man-made gods that could rival Him or equal His power.

The scripture always says Yahweh or Jehovah is the only Savior and God.  And we see in scripture that God has used men to be saviors and as God.  Example:
And when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.  (Judges 3:9)
But when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised them up a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. And the children of Israel sent tribute by him unto Eglon the king of Moab. (Judges 3:15)
And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God. (Ex. 4:16)
And Jehovah said unto Moses, See, I have made thee as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. (Ex. 7:1)
 Yahweh is King of eternity, but He let Solomon be a King on his throne.
Then Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. (1 Chron. 29:23)
Though men were saviors to the children of Israel, Almighty God used Jesus, a man, to be the savior of the world (John 4:22; 1 John 4:14; Acts 2:22). Yahweh used men to be Savior, God, and King, but that didn't make them the Almighty God.  The same can be said of  Jesus in that he is not God, King, Savior, or Lord because of his nature; it is because Yahweh, for the reason of his eternal plan, has given all this to His only Son.

Magistrates are called God because God (Yahweh) has given them authority.  The Jewish law of agency is expressed in the dictum, a person's agent is regarded as the person himself.   Even Murray J. Harris states regarding gods in the Bible besides the Almighty:
Human rulers or judges, regarded as divine representatives or as bearers of divine authority and majesty (Ex. 21:6; 228; [cf. 1 Sam. 2:25]; Judges 5:8; Ps. 82:1,6) b.  Spiritual or heavenly beings, including God (Gen.1:27) and angels (Ps. 8:6 [Engl. V.5]) c. Angels (Ps. 97:7; 138:1) d. Heathen gods with their images (Ex. 20:23; Jer. 16:20)...both el, [meaning 'god') and Elohim [meaning 'gods'], have extended or 'irregular' applications to angels or to persons who represent on earth divine power, judgment, or majesty. 
 Yahweh is the only true God as Jesus stated in John 17:3,
And this is everlasting life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 
A point well made is that - "The Father the PRINCIPLE, the Son the AGENT."  The ultimate Savior and God is Yahweh.  He is the only Almighty God.

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