6-Questions About Christ's Divinity - NAS

1. Doesn't the Bible Teach That Jesus Was the "First Born" of Creation and Therefore, Having Been Created, Cannot Have Been Co-Existent with the Father From Eternity? Here Is the Text Used for This Question:
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the _invisible_ God, the _firstborn_ of all creation.

2. The Previous Text Refers to Jesus As the First Born of Every Creature. Jesus Declared That He Was the "I Am" Meaning the Self-Existent One.
Exodus 3:14 God said to _Moses_, "I AM WHO I AM "; and He said, "Thus you _shall_ say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

John 8:58 _Jesus_ said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, _before_ Abraham was born, I am."

The Greek word here for first born is prototokos meaning the pre-eminent one-the one who has the privileges and prerogatives of God. Jesus is the first born not in the sense of time. Jesus is the first born in the sense of privilege. All the privileges of the first born are His. David was the eighth son of Jesse, yet called the first born because of his priviledged status as king.

 3. Jesus Existed Before Abraham. Isaiah the Prophet Called Him the Everlasting Father.
Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the _government_ will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful _Counselor_, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

4. Micah Declares That His Origin Is From Everlasting.
Micah 5:2 "But as for you, Bethlehem _Ephrathah_, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of _eternity_."

5. John Affirms That Jesus Is God.
John 1:1 In the _beginning_ was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

6. Jesus Had The Privileges And Prerogatives Of God.
Philippians 2:5-11 Have this attitude in _yourselves_ which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, _although_ He existed in the form of God, did not regard _equality_ with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the _likeness_ of men. [8] Being found in _appearance_ as a man, He humbled Himself by _becoming_ _obedient_ to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and _bestowed_ on Him the name which is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the _children_ share in flesh and blood, He Himself _likewise_ also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things _pertaining_ to God, to make _propitiation_ for the sins of the people.

While the world was lost He voluntarily left heaven to become a man, dwelling in human flesh, fighting temptations as we fight them. He overcame in our behalf.

Next Bible Study: 7-Salvation

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