The emphasis is upon the word ‘full’. There are scriptures which teach that He was a man among men, and there are scriptures which teach that He was co-equal with God.
Throughout the history of the Christian Church there have been those
who have denied the one or the other. There are many cults that are doing
this today. Surprising as it will be to some, there are many ‘new Bibles’
that have been so changed: they affirm He was a teacher, but omit that
He is Lord. (This New Age teaching is discernible in new Bibles today.
See, for example the book "New Age Bible Versions", by G.A.Riplinger. This
and over 50 other books, booklets, audio and video cassettes on this subject
are obtainable from A.V. Publications Corp., P.O.Box 280, Ararat, Virginia
24053
Tel./Fax: (U.S.code)+540 251 1734.
In the 3rd century there was a fierce controversy concerning the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. It led eventually to an accepted statement which became known as the Nicene Creed (AD 325).
"I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father By whom all things were made..."This statement clearly conveys the DIVINITY of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
| His divine pre-existence | John 1:1, 3 | John 17:5 | Coloss. 1:16, 17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| His divine titles | John 20:28 | Heb. 1:8 | 1 Tim. 3:16 |
| His divine attributes | Heb. 1:3 | Matt. 11:27 | Heb. 13:8 |
| His divine works | Mark 6:41 | Acts 4:10 | John 11:25 |
| We are baptised in His Name | Matt 28:19 |
|---|---|
| We are to honour Him | John 5:23 |
| We are to believe in Him | John 14:1 |
| We may call upon Him | Acts 7:59, 60 |
| We are blessed in His Name | 2 Cor. 13:14 |
There are many, many other scriptures we could have quoted to show the full scripture teaching concerning His divinity. The part of the Nicene Creed quoted above is well founded upon the authority of Scripture.
We could also think of His profound influence through many ages in art, music, drama and prose. Think, too, of the countless lives that have been changed, and are being changed today, through the power of His indwelling presence. Jesus Christ is truly Lord!
The Nicene Creed continues:-
".....Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary And was made man, And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried....."
| Jesus wept. | Luke 19:41 | John 11:35 |
|---|---|---|
| Jesus was hungry. | Matt 4:2 | Matt 21:16 |
| Jesus was thirsty. | John 4:7 | John 19:28 |
| He needed to rest. | Matt 8:24 | John 4:6 |
| He agonised / sweat. | Luke 22:44 | Heb. 5:7 |
| Jesus died. | 1 Cor. 15:3,4 | John 19:33, 34 |
There are many, many other scriptures we could have quoted to show the full scripture teaching concerning His humanity.
Again the Nicene Creed continues:-
".....And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end..."Men will continue to question His divinity or His humanity, but the true biblical teaching is that Jesus Christ was both man and God.
None less than GOD could make atonement for the sins of the whole world, and none more than MAN could become a merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
It is very important that we hold correct and scriptural views of our Lord Jesus Christ. Belief affects behaviour. There is a tendency in some churches toward light, almost frivolous, types of worship. A right view concerning the Person into whose presence we come will tend to check what can amount to irreverence.
We have no desire to encourage dull or dead worship, but our worship should be governed by an enthusiasm appropriate to our understanding of the true Lordship of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God..., and let thy words be few." (Eccles. 5:1,2)