Paul would have said Jesus created all other things, but he did not. Isaac, Jacob and Ephraim received the blessing of the "first-born," though they were not biologically the first sons born to their parents. It is a title given by a father to his son. "First-born" here does not refer to time, but to preeminence. He is before all and by Him all things were created." JWs think this means Jesus is the first created being. If Christ was created, He would have had to have created Himself, which is impossible.Ĭolossians 1:15-17 - Jesus is called the "first-born of all creation. and without Him was made nothing that was made." John 1:1-3 says Jesus (the Word) created "all things. Ask the Witness how Jesus and Jehovah can both be the "Alpha and the Omega." Also ask if this means that Jehovah God had a "beginning," because arche is used to describe Him? Here arche means "the source of all being." Jesus is the source of the creation of God because he is the creator of all things. I shall be His God and He shall be My Son." But Jesus is called the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" in Revelation 22:13. In Revelation 21:6 Jehovah is called the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. It connotes "the eternal source of all that is." The Greek word translated as "source" or "origin" is arche. Notice the text does not say Christ was created. 3:14 - "These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God's creation." This verse is a clear reference to the Hypostatic Union of Christ (He was fully God and man). He calls the Father His God because He is His God whom He worships, prays to and needs in His life just as we do." As a man the Father is His God - just as He is ours. Here, he speaks in reference to His human nature. Say, "I believe that Jesus is both God and man. John 20:17 - "I ascend to My Father and to your Father, to My God and to your God." How can the Father be His 'God' if Christ is God? How can God have a God?" 3:14), and as a man, He prayed to the Father. This monotheism is the basis of the Trinity.Ĭhrist is true God and true man (John 1:1, 14 Col. Christ's statement does not entail a denial that He too is God.Ĭhrist was affirming the monotheism of the Jews, that there is only one God. God the Father is "the only true God." This statement is completely in harmony with the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity: One God in three Persons. John 17:3 - "And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." The Witnesses will argue that Jesus can't be God if the Father is the "only true God," and they will point out that Christ was praying to God here. If John the Baptist is the greatest man to ever live, and if Jesus was just a man, does that mean John the Baptist was greater than Jesus, superior to Him by nature? Does that mean Jesus and John could not have both had a human nature? Matthew 11:11 says there has never been a man "greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Does this mean John does not have a human nature? Does this mean those in heaven, who are greater than John, have a different nature? Hebrews 2:9 says that Jesus was made for a while "lower than the angels" at the Incarnation. The Father is "greater" than the incarnate Christ in terms of position because Christ's humanity is a creation, though in His divinity He is equal to the Father.
John 14:28 - Jesus says, "The Father is greater than I." Here are several they'll use and responses you can give:
Step One:Īsk the Witnesses to read the passages they think disprove Christ's divinity. Have the following Bible verses (the ones they'll use and the ones you'll use) highlighted in your Bible for easy reference. Didn't you know the Bible teaches that Jesus is God?" Instead of a "yes" or "no," turn the question back on them and take control of the conversation. If you say "yes," you've aligned yourself with their heresy. If you answer with a "no," you appear ignorant and you've given them an invitation to control the discussion. This "did you know" question is designed to throw you off balance. Did you know that the Bible actually teaches that Jesus was not God?" After a few moments of conversation, one of them spots the crucifix on your wall and remarks, "It's interesting that Catholics believe that Jesus was God. Jehovah's Witnesses come to your door on a Saturday afternoon.
0 kommentar(er)
