Worship Christ as God or Man? - Ep. 1

As expected,Jose Magadia couldn't answer the last article that I'd address on him that he once boast on me the last time. Now he tries to shift on a different topic thinking it couldn't be answered. Let's find out -

A comment on my post were he tries to change the subject 

The Concern

• Where in the Bible where Christ Preach He is God?
• Where in the bible where the apostles and believers worship Christ as God?

A pretty good question to those people who never knew Christ and it's biblical occurrences. Actually, I had addressed it several times already in this blog, you may check it out somewhere using search form located in this blog page.

Anyway, In the Bible, Jesus implies His divinity in several places rather than making direct statements saying "I am God." His divinity is shown through His actions, the titles He accepts, the prophecies He fulfills, and the way He speaks about His relationship with the Father. Here are a few instances:

• John 8:58 – Jesus said, "Before Abraham was born, I am!" This statement harks back to Exodus 3:14, where God reveals His name to Moses as "I AM." This was understood by His listeners as a claim to divinity, which is why they attempted to stone Him.

• John 10:30 – Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." Again, the Jews picked up stones to stone Him because they understood this as a claim to be God.

• John 14:9 – Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father, and Jesus responds, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." By equating seeing Him with seeing the Father, Jesus makes a profound claim about His divine nature.

• John 20:28 – After the Resurrection, Thomas the Apostle declares to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus does not correct him, which affirms His divinity.

• Philippians 2:6-11 – This passage describes Jesus as "being in the form of God," but not considering equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. This hymn highlights Christ's humility and His divinity.

These passages, among others, are central to Christian belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ. They portray not only His own understanding of His divine nature but also how He is recognized as divine by His followers.

And for the second questions which is actually similar to the first as I could see it's redundancy. But let's get to it straight.

There are several instances in the New Testament where apostles and believers exhibit actions or attitudes toward Jesus that are consistent with worship, recognizing Him as divine. Here are some of the moments where Jesus is given such reverence:

• Matthew 14:33 – After Jesus walks on water and calms the storm, those in the boat worship Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

• Matthew 28:9 – Following the Resurrection, when Jesus meets the women near the tomb, they come to Him, clasped His feet, and worshiped Him.

• John 20:28 – Thomas, upon seeing the risen Christ and His wounds, exclaims, "My Lord and my God!" This acknowledgment from Thomas is a declaration of worship and recognition of Jesus’s divine identity.

• Luke 24:52 – After Jesus ascends into heaven, the disciples worship Him and then return to Jerusalem with great joy.

Hebrews 1:6 – In speaking of Jesus, the author of Hebrews says, "And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God’s angels worship him.'" This indicates the divine status of Jesus and that even angels are commanded to worship Him.

These examples illustrate the recognition of Jesus's divine nature by His followers and their response of worship towards Him. The New Testament, through these instances, subtly but powerfully affirms the divinity of Christ as understood by His earliest followers.

Additionally, Hebrews 1:8 is part of an argument the author of Hebrews makes about the superiority of Christ above angels and His divine nature. The verse states, "But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.'" This verse is actually a quotation from Psalm 45:6, applied to Jesus to affirm His divine status and eternal reign.

The context of Hebrews 1 is crucial. In this chapter, the author aims to establish Jesus Christ's divinity and His position as the Son of God, which surpasses the angels. The chapter begins by emphasizing that God has spoken through His Son in these last days, and that the Son is the heir of all things, through whom also He made the universe.

The quotation of Psalm 45:6 in Hebrews 1:8 serves as a powerful testimony to the Son’s divine nature and eternal kingship. By using Old Testament scripture to describe Jesus, the author of Hebrews makes a compelling argument to his primarily Jewish audience, highlighting that Jesus Christ embodies the fulfillment of the scriptures.

Following this verse, Hebrews 1:9 continues the quote from Psalm 45, emphasizing the righteousness of the Son's kingdom. This way, the passage celebrates Christ's eternal reign, His love of righteousness, and His hatred of wickedness, further underscoring His divine attributes and the legitimacy of His kingship.

The entire first chapter of Hebrews essentially sets the stage for the rest of the epistle, which delves into the supremacy of Christ's priesthood, His sacrifice, and His covenant, contrasted with the old covenant and priesthood.

There are other passage of Scriptures that said about Christ Divinity and Nature. This passages throughout the scriptures illuminate the divine nature and the divinity of Jesus Christ. Let's look at a few examples from the Bible and the Book of Mormon:

From the Bible:

• John 1:1, 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 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.”

• Colossians 2:9 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

• Hebrews 1:3 “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;”

From the Book of Mormon, this was also confirmed and highlighted of Christ:

• 2 Nephi 26:12 “And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.”

• Mosiah 5:7 “And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.”

• Alma 11:38-39 “Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father? And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;”

These passages, among others, underscore not only Christ's divine nature but also His integral role in the plan of salvation, embodying both the physical and spiritual salvation for mankind. They depict Him as the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer of all life and existence.

Now you know, Be Enlightened.

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