It’s easily a question someone from another religion would ask, especially my Jewish brothers and sisters.
Compared to God the Father, Jesus is often seen as “God Junior” to some, or just a great teacher and healer to unbelievers.
Which begs the question…
If God is all-powerful, why do we need Jesus?
After all, our God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
There is nothing He cannot accomplish.
This in itself leads to many other questions, and rightfully so.
Is Jesus just a “part God”?
Is Jesus as powerful as Father God?
Does the Holy Spirit take anything away from Jesus?
God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all one and complement each other.
As Christians, we believe Jesus is our Lord and Savior.
We believe that Jesus is part of the Trinity of God. (Tri means three, unity means one, or “trinity,” which is three in one.)
There is only one God, comprised of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) and “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
Speaking to His disciples about the Holy Spirit, Jesus told them, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever…” (John 14:16-17)
If you do not read anything else in this blog PLEASE click on the link and read John 5: 21-30.
It explains the deity of Jesus and His power.
“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” (John 5:21-23)
God has committed all judgment to Jesus, who will judge us when we physically die:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)
Jesus is the Epitome of God’s Grace to Mankind
Grace has been described as “The unmerited favor of God toward man.”
It is God’s love toward men who don’t deserve it.
His grace is free to us. The price was paid by Jesus on the cross.
Thanks to Jesus, God has an ABUNDANCE OF GRACE for all mankind (Romans 5:17).
Because of God’s grace…
- It is Jesus who can forgive us of our sins. (Matthew 1:21, Luke 7:48, 1 John 1:9)
- It is Jesus who brings the redeemed back to fellowship with the Father. (1 Cor. 1:30)
- It is Jesus who offers us eternal life. (John 10: 28-30, 1 John 2:25, Rom. 5:17)
- It is Jesus, and only Jesus, who seeks the lost and offers us a new life in Him. (Luke 19:10, 2 Cor. 5:17)
What the Word of God Says About the Trinity
The Bible clearly speaks of God the Son, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit.
But it is still ONE GOD.
As early as Genesis 1:26 the Holy Trinity is acknowledged when God said, “Let US make man in Our image … to rule over the Earth.”
He didn’t say, “Let ME make man in My image.”
Why is Jesus ‘The Only Way’?
God’s Word says, nobody… NOBODY … gets to heaven except through His Son, Jesus.
Jesus is the Man-God, Son of the Jewish virgin Mary (thus making Jesus Jewish by Hebrew law).
He was selected by God the Father to save mankind.
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
Jesus is the ONLY mediator between God and man:
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
To His “doubting disciple” Thomas he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
All authority has been given to Jesus.
Matthew 28: 18-19 tells us:
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Colossians 1: 15-18 explains Jesus’ deity this way:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
The “fullness” of Jesus is described in Colossians 1: 19-20:
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
God the Father gave Jesus the Son the keys to the kingdom to rule over the heavens, the earth and anything below the earth.
In Matthew 16:19 He told His disciples: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Key Takeaway
As you have read, Jesus is the bridge between God the Father and a sinful people.
There is no other way to God or to heaven without Jesus.
We have learned that…
- Jesus saves us and redeems us, forgives our sins and restores our relationship with the Father through his shedding of blood on the cross.
- Jesus represents our Resurrected life through Him.
- Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father but by Him.
- Jesus holds the keys to life and judgment, as mandated by God the Father. (Again, please click on the link to read John 5: 21-30).
Jesus, Jews, and the Old Testament
For my Jewish brethren, the coming of Jesus is told in many scriptures of the Old Testament.
Jesus referred to His fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament when He appeared to His disciples following His Resurrection:
Then He said to them,“These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” (Luke 24:44)
To those still awaiting their Messiah, I can only say your wait is over.
But don’t take my word for it. Or the Bible’s word for it. If you are truly searching for Messiah, pray to God and ask Him to show you the way, the truth and the life.
Let God open your heart. His desire is to fellowship with you.
After all, our God is rich in grace, mercy, and love.
And to that end, Jesus is the greatest Love the world has ever known.
Thank you so much for your post Ani. Your wisdom and insight is remarkable! =] Always such a blessing to read all the Lord has to say through you. God bless you!
Thank you so much for your post Ani. Your wisdom and insight is remarkable! =] Always such a blessing to read all the Lord has to say through you. God bless you!
Thanks for the kind words Amanda. God has a purpose for ALL those who love Him. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Thanks for the kind words Amanda. God has a purpose for ALL those who love Him. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
awesome read you hit all the rioht notes
Thank you, Benjamin. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
awesome read you hit all the rioht notes
Thank you, Benjamin. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
How great is our God
He has opened my eyes and I see
His grace is sufficient
YESHUA has saved me from my sin nature
Washed not covered in the blood
Now born again
My God I lift up the lost and pray they to will see and accept your love and free gift
How great is our God
He has opened my eyes and I see
His grace is sufficient
YESHUA has saved me from my sin nature
Washed not covered in the blood
Now born again
My God I lift up the lost and pray they to will see and accept your love and free gift