The Faithfulness of God
Deut. 7: 9 — “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” Deut. 32: 4, R.V. — “The rock, his work is perfect; For all his ways are judgment: A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is he.”
Is. 49: 7 — “Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.”
i Cor. i: 9 — “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
i Cor. 10: 13 — “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make away to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
1 Thess. 5: 24 — “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
2 Thess. 3: 3 — “But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you and keep you from evil.”
i Jno. i: 9 — “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
FIRST PROPOSITION: God is faithful.
H. What does” faithful mean 1
(1) THE ETYMOLOGY. — The Hebrew root from which the words translated “faithful” and “faithfulness” in the Old Testament are derived means to prop or stay or support. The intransitive use of the word signifies to stay oneself or be supported: hence the word ’ faithful, “as applied to a person, means such an one as one may safely lean upon. The Greek word used in the New Testament means trustworthy or to be relied upon, but this Greek word is the same used in theLXX for the Hebrew word mentioned above, and of course gets its meaning from this usage. (2) USAGE. — Ps. 119:86. ’ ‘All thy commandments are faithful.” Prov. 14: 5. — “A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.”
Matt. 24: 45, 46 — “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” Matt. 25: 21, 23 — “His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will m»£e thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
1 Tim. 1: 15 — “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of wil acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Rev. 21: 5 — “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
The Biblical usage of the word conforms to its etymology. The thought will come out more fully and definitely as we come to see how the faithfulness of God is manifested. Therefore, the proposition God is faithful means God is a being upon whom we can absolutely rely or stay ourselves.
III. The extent of God’s faithfulness.
(1) Lam. 3: 23 — ‘* They are new every morning: great is thy faith fulness.”
FIRST PROPOSITION: God’ s faithfulness is great.
(2) Ps. 36: 5, R.V. — “Thy loving kindness, O LORD, is in the heav« ens; thy faithfulness reacheth unto the sides.”
SECOND PROPOSITION: God’ s faithfulness reacheth unto th* skies. (Note context, v. 6. Compare Ps. 89: 2 — “For I have said, Mercy shall be built up forever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.”)
(3) Ps. 33:4, R.V. — “For the word of the LORD is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness.”
{THIRD PROPOSITION: All God’s work is done in faithfulness.
IV. How the faithfulness of God is manifested.
(1) Heb. 10:23, 36, 37 — “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised). For we have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”
Deut. 7: 9 — “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.”
Cf. i Kg: 8, 23, 24, 56 — “And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou speakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses, his servant.”
Ps. 89:33, 34 — “Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”
Ps. 119: 89, 90 — “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in Heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.”
FIRST PROPOSITION: Gods faithfulness is manifested in His keeping His promise and covenant. His fulfilling every word that goes out of His mouth regardless of what man does.
(2) i Pet. 4: 19 — “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”
Ps. 89; 20-26 — “I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: with whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him: nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.”
This might well be called “The Faithfulness Psalm.” (See v. 1, etc.)
SECOND PROPOSITION: God’s faithfulness is manifested in the unfailing defense and deliverance of His servants in times of trial, testing and conflict.
(3) Lam. 3:22-23 — “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morn ing; great is thy faithfulness.”
(Cf. Jer. 51:5 — “For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.”)
THIRD PROPOSITION: Gods faithfulness is manifested in His standing by His people and saving them even when they are unfaithful to him.
Cf. 2 Tim. 2: 13, R. V. — “If we are faithless, he abideth faithful: for he cannot deny himself.”
i Sam., 12, 20-22 — “And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it has pleased the LORD to make you his people.”
Our security is in His faithfulness, not in our own.
(4) i Cor. 10: 13 — “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
FOURTH PROPOSITION: God’s faithfulness is manifested in His not suffering His children to be tempted above that which they are able, but with the temptation making also a way to eacape, that they may be able to bear it.
(5) 2 Thess. 3: 3, R.V. — “But the Lord is faithful, who shall estate lishyou, and guard you from the evil one.”
i Cor. i: 8, 9 — “Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
i Thess. 5:23, 24, R.V. — “And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.”
FIFTH PROPOSITION: The faithfulness of God is manifested in confirming and establishing those ichom He has called, guarding them from the evil one, sanctifying them wholly and preserving them entire — spirit, soul and body — without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The confidence of God’ s children in regard to their future is not in their faithfulness, but in His.
Cf. Jno. 10: 28, 29 — “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
(6) Ps. 119: 75 — “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”
SIXTH PROPOSITION: God’s faithfulness is manifested in His chastening His children when they go astray.
Cf. Heb. 12:6 — “For whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
(7) i Jno. i: 9 — “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
SEVENTH PROPOSITION: God’s faithfulness is manifested in His forgiving His children when they confess their sins.
Our confidence that God will forgive our sins when confessed rests upon two known facts about God, viz: God is righteous and God is faithful. To doubt that your sin is forgiven when you have confessed it is to question His righteousness and His faithfulness as well as His veracity. It is not humility, but presumption.
(8) Ps. 143: i, 2 — “Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications; in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.”
EIGHTH PROPOSITION: God’s Faithfulness is manifested
in His answering the prayers of His children.
The Righteousness, Mercy and Faithfulness of God run along nearly parallel lines, and they are all pledged to the deliverance, defense and complete and eternal salvation of God’s pec* pie.
BOOK II.
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT
JESUS CHRIST.
HIS DIVINITY.
I. Divine Names.
(1) Luke 22: 70 — “Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.”
u THE SON OF GOD.” This name is given to CHRIST forty times. Besides this the synonymous expressions, “His Son,” “My Son,” are of frequent occurrence. That this name, as used of CHRIST, is a distinctly divine name appears from Jno. 5: 18 — 11 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making himself equal with God,”
(2) Jno. i: 18 — “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
’ ( THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. “This occurs five times. It is evident that the statement that JESUS CHRIST is the Son of God only in the same sense that all men are sons of God is not true. Compare Mark 12: 6 — “Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.” Here JESUS Himself, having spoken of all the prophets as servants of God, speaks of Himself as “one,” a beloved “Son.”
(3) Rev. i: 17 — “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.”
“THE FIRST AND THE LAST.” Compare Is. 41:4 — “Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.” .Is. 44: 6 — “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” In these latter passages it is “Jehovah” “Jehovah of hosts” who is “the first and the last.”
(4.) Rev. 22: 12, 13, 16 — “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”
First. — “THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.” Second. — “THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING.” Cf. Rev. 1:8, R. V. — “I am the Alpha and the Omega saith the Lord God, which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty.” Here it is the Lord God who is the Alpha and Omega.
(5) Acts 3: 14 — “But he denied the Holy One and the just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.”
“THE HOLY ONE.” — In Hosea 11: 9 — ( “I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city” ), and many other pas sages; it is God who is “the Holy One.”
(6) Mai. 3: i — “Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold he shall come, saith the LORD of Hosts.”
Luke 2: ii — “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Acts 9: 17 — “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Cf. Jno. 20:28; Heb. 1:10.)
“THE LORD.” This name or title is used of JESUS several hundred times. The word translated “Lord” is used in the New Testament in speaking of men nine times; e. g., Acts 16: 30; Eph. 4:1; Jno. 12: 21, but not at all in the way in which it is used of CHRIST. He is spoken of as lit/ie Lord “just as God is. Cf. ‘Acts 4: 2(3 — “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ,” with 4: 33 — “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was given them all.”
Note also Matt. 22: 43-45, — “He saith unto them, How, then, doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. If David called him Lord, how is he his son?” Phil. 2: 11 — “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Eph. 4:5 — “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
If any one doubts the attitude of the apostles of JESUS to ward Him as divine they would do well to read one after another the passages which speak of him as Lord.
(7) Acts 10:36 — “The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of ally.”
“LORD OF ALL.”
(8) i Cor. 2’. 8 — “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
1 ‘THE LORD OF GLORY.”
In Ps. 24: 8-10 — “Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates: even lift them up, ye everlasting doors: and the king of glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of Glory.” It is the LORD of Hosts who is the King of Glory.
(9) Is. 9:6 — (a) “VONDERFUL.” (Cf, Judges 13: 18, R.V. “And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore askest thou after my name, seeing it is wonderful? “) (b) “MIGHTY GOD.” (c) “FATHER OF ETERNITY.” (See R.V., Marg.)
(10) Heb. 1:8 — “But unto the son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.”
“GOD.”
In Jno 20:28 — “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” Thomas calls Jesus “my God,” and is gently rebuked for not believing it before.
(u) Matt. 1:23 — “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which be ing interpreted is, God with us.” “GOD WITH us.”
(12) Tit. 2: 13, R.V. — “Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior JESUS CHRIST.”
OUR GREAT GOD.”
(13) Rom. 9: 5 — “Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever, Amen.”
“Goo BLESSED FOREVER.”
PROPOSITION: Sixteen names dearly implying Deity art used of Christ in the Bible, some of them over and over again, the total number of passages reaching far into the hundreds.
II. Diiine attributes.
(1) OMNIPOTENCE.
(a) Luke 4:39 — “And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever: and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.”
JESUS has power over disease, it is subject to his word.
(£) Luke 7: 14, 15 — “And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”
Luke 8: 54, 55 — “And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.”
Jno. 5: 25 — “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”
The Son of God has power over death; it is subject to His word.
(c) Matt. 8: 26, 27 — “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
JESUS has power over the winds and sea; they are subject to His word.
(d) Matt. 8: 16 — “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.”
Luke 4: 35, 36, 41 — “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this 1 for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them, suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.”
JESUS the CHRIST, the Son of God, has power over demons; they are subject to His word.
(e) Eph. i: 20-23 — “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
CHRIST is far above all principality, and power, and might, ftnd dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; all things are in subjection (R. V.) under His feet. All the hierarchies of the angelic world are under Him.
(/) Heb. 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.”
The Son of God upholds all things by the word of His power.
FIRST PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is omnipotent. (ci) Jno. 4:16-19 — “Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband; in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him. Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.”
JESUS knew men’s lives, even their secret history. (b) Mark 2:8 — “And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?”
Luke 5:22 — “But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?”
Jno. 2: 24, 25 — “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, be cause he knew all men. And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” (See also Acts i: 24.)
JESUS knew the secret thoughts of menj He knew all men; He knew what was in man.
In 2 Chron. 6: 30 — [ “Then hear thou from heaven, thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways whose heart thou knowest (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men). Jer. 17: 9, 10 — “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I, the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings”] we ire told that God “only knoweth the hearts of the children of men.’*
(c) Jno. 6: 64 — “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”
JESUS knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him. Not only men’s present thoughts but their future choices were known to Him.
(d) Jno. 1:48 — “Nathanael saith unto’him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”
JESUS knew what men were doing at a distance.
(e) Luke 22: 10-12 — “And he said unto them, Behold when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good man of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.”
Jno. 13: i — “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”
Luke 5:4-6 — “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down tho net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.”
JESUS knew the future regarding not only God’s acts, but regarding the minute specific acts of men, and even regarding the fishes of the sea.
NOTE. — Many, if not all, of these items of knowledg-e up to this pfttut could, if they stood alone, be accounted for by saying that the Omniscient God revealed these specific things to JESUS.
(f) Jno. 21: 17 — “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto Him, Lord, thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
16: 30 — “Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou earnest forth from God.”
Col. 2: 3 — “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowl« edge.”
Jesus knew all things; in Him are hid all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge.
SECOND PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ is omniscient.
NOTE. — There was, as we shall see when we come to study the humanity of CHRIST, a voluntary veiling and abnegation of the exercise of His inherent Divine Omniscience. (Compare Mark n: 12-14: Phil.
2:70
(3) OMNIPRESENCE.
(a) Matt. 18: 20 — “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
JESUS CHRIST is present in every place where two or three are gathered together in His name.
(b) Matt. 28:20 — “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
JESUS CHRIST is present with every one who goes forth into any part of the world to make disciples, etc.
(c) Jno. 3: 13 — “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man which is in heaven.”
The Son of Man was in heaven while He was here on earth.
NOTE. — The reading here is doubtful. It is found in this way in the Alexandrian MS., and almost all versions. The closing words are omitted in the Sinaitic and other important MSS. It is accepted by most of the best editors; e. g,> Tischendorf and Tregelles, but it is rejected by Westcott and Hort.
(d) Jno. 14:20 — “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”
2 Cor. 13:5 — “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that JESUS CHRIST is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
JESUS CHRIST is in each believer.
(e) Eph. i: 23 — “Which is his body, the fulness of him that filletb all in all.”
JESUS CHRIST filleth all in all.
THIRD PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ is Omnipresent.
(4) ETERNITY.
Jno. i: i — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Mic. 5:2 — “But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be littla among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old,/)w;/ everlasting.”
Col. i: 17 — “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
Is. 9: 6 — “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
Jno. 17: 5 — “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (See also Jno. 6: 62.)
Jno. 8: 58 — “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
i Jno. i: i — “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.”
Heb. 13:8 — N” Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.”
FOURTH PROPOSITION: The Son of Godwasfromall eternity.
(5) IMMUTABILITY.
Heb. 13:8 — “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.”
Heb. i: 12 — “And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.”
FIFTH PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ is unchangeable. He
not on?,y always is but ahoays is the same.
(C.) Phil. 2: 6 — “Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”
SIXTH PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ before His incarnation was in the form of God.
NOTE. — The Greek word translated “form,” means “the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision; the external appearance.” (Thayer, Greek-Eng. Lexicon of the N. T.)
(7) Col. 2: 9. — “For in him dwelleth all the f mness of the God head bodily.”
SEVENTH PROPOSITION; In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the God- head in a bodily way.
GENERAL PROPOSITION: Five or more distinctively Divine Attributes are ascribed to Jesus Christ and all the fulness of the God-head is said to dwell in Him in. Divine Offices.
(1) CREATION.
Heb. i: 10 — “And them, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thy hands.” Jno. 1:3. “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”
Col. i: 16 — “For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.”
FIRST PROPOSITION: The Son of God, ttie Eternal Word,
the Lord, is Creator of all created
(2) PRESERVATION.
Heb. i: 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.”
SECOND PROPOSITION; The Son of God is the Preserver of all things.
(3) THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN.
Mark 2: 5-10 — “When Jesus saw their ‘faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when jEsus’perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy).”
Luke 7: 48 — “And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.”
THIRD PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ had power on earth to
forgive sins.
NOTE. — He taught that sins were sins against Himself. (See Luke 7:
40-47 — “And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat ta say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned unto the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore, I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
He speaks of both Simon and the woman, as sinners, being debtors to himself.
(Compare Ps. 51:4 — “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. “)
(4) RAISING OF THE DEAD.
Jno. 6: 39y 44 — “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
FOURTH PROPOSITION; It is Jesus Christ who raises the
dead.
QUESTION: Did not Elijah and Elisha raise the dead? No. God raised the dead in answer to their prayer, but JESUS CHRIST will raise the dead by his own word. During his humiliation it was by prayer that CHRIST raised the dead. (Jno. 11:41 — “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.”)
(5) TRANSFORMATION OF BODIES.
Phil. 3: 21, R.V. — “Who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able to subject all things unto himself.”
FIFTH PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation into the likeness of His glorious body.
(G) JUDGMENT.
2 Tim. 4: i, R.V. — “I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.”
SIXTH PROPOSITION: Christ Jesus shall judge the quick and the dead.
NOTE. — JESUS Himself emphasized the Divine character of this office. John 5: 22, 23 — “For the Father judgethno man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him.”
(7) THE BESTOWAL OF ETERNAL LIFE.
Jno. 10:28 — “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
Jno. 17: 2 — “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.”
SEVENTH PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ is the giver of
Eternal Life.
GENERAL PROPOSITION: Seven distinctly Divine Offices
are predicated of Jesus Christ.
IT. Statements which in the Old Testament are made distinctly of Jehovah, Gotl, taken in the New Testament to refer to Jesus Christ.
(i) Ps. 102:24-27 — “I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”
In Heb. 1: 10-12 — “And thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thy hands. They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment. And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail” — this statement is interpreted as referring to JESUS CHRIST.
(2) Is. 40: 3, 4 —” The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD (Jehovah), make straight in the desert the highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.”
In Matt. 3:3; Luke 1: 68, 69, 76 — “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people. And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. And thou, child shall be called the prophet of the highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways” — JESUS is the Lord before whose face the messenger goes.
(3) Jer. 11:20 — “But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.”
Jer. 17: 10 — “I, the LORD, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
In Rev. 2: 23 — “And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works” — it is JESUS who does what is distinctly said of Jehovah in the Old Testament passage.
(4) Is. 60: 19 —” The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.” (See also Zech. 2: 5.)
This is said of Jesus in Luke 2: 32 — “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
(5) Is. 6: i, 3, 10 — “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. And one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert and be healed.” (Compare Jno. 12: 37-41 —” But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report?
and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias when he saw his glory, and spake of him.”y
In the Old Testament passage it was when he saw the glory of Jehovah of hosts that Isaiah spoke these things, but in the New Testament John says it was when Isaiah saw the glory of JESUS CHRIST that he said this. The inference is simple.
(6) Is. 8: 13, 14 — “Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself: and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (Compare i Pel. 2:7, 8 — “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”)
In the Old Testament Jehovah is the stone of stumbling, etc. tn the New Testament it is JESUS CHRIST.
(7) Is. 8: 12, 13 — “Say ye not, a confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, a confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (Compare i Pet. 3: 14 — “But and if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear neither be troubled; but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear.”)
(8) Num. 21: 6, 7 — “And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us, and Moses prayed for the people.”
(Compare i Cor. 10: 9 — “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.”)
(9) Ps. 23: i — “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Is. 40: 10, ii — “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Compare Jno. 10: n — “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”)
In the Old Testament Jehovah is the good shepherd; in the New Testament JESUS.
(10) Ezek. 34: IT, 12, 18 — “For thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?” (Compare Luke 19:10 — “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
In the O. T. Jehovah, in thb N. T. JESUS seeks and saves the lost.”
(11) Lord in the Old Testament always refers to GOD except where the context clearly indicates otherwise: Lord in the New Testament always refers to JESUS CHRIST except where the context clearly indicates otherwise.
PROPOSITION: Very many statements which in the Old Testament are made distinctly of Jehovah, God, are taken in the New Testament to refer to Jesus Christ; i. e., ‘in New Testament thought and doctrine Jesus Christ occupies the place that Jehovah occupies in Old Testament thought and doctrine.
V. The way in which the name of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Sou are coupled together.
2 Cor. 13: 14 — “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
Matt. 28:19 — “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
i Thess. 3:11 — “Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.”
i Cor. 12: 4-6 — “Now there are diversities of gifts, but of the same spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God, which worketh all in all.”
Tit. 3:4, 5 — “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Compare Tit. 2: 13 — “Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”)
Rom. 1:7 — “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Many instances of this sort in all the Pauline Epistles.)
Jas. i: i — “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”
Jno. 14: 23 — “Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
“WE,” GOD AND I.
2 Pet. i: i — “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Compare R. V.)
Col. 2:2 — “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” (See R.V.)
Jno. 17: 3 — “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
Jno. 14: i — “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, be lieve also in me.” (Compare Jer. 17:5-7 — “Thus saith the LORD; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”)
Rev. 7: 10 — “And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
Rev. 5: 13 — “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that ‘sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for evei and ever.” (Compare Jno. 5:23 — “That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him.”)
PROPOSITION: The name of Jesus Christ is coupled with that of God the Father in numerous passages in a way in which it would be impossible to couple the name of any finite being with that of the Deity.
VI. Dirine Worship to foe given to Jesus Christ.
(i) Matt 28: 9 — “And is they went to tell his disciples, behold
Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and ivors ‘hipped him.”
Luke 24: 52 — “And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
Matt. 14:33 — u Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.” (Compare Acts. 10:25, 26 —” And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.’’’’y
Rev. 22: 8, 9 — “And I John saw these things and heard them. And when I had heard and seen I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren, the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: wor ship God.”
Matt. 4: 9, 10 — “And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
FIRST PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ accepted without hesitation a worship which good men and angels declined with fear (horror).
QUESTION: Is not the verb translated “worship” in tnese passages, sometimes used of reverence paid to men in high position?
ANSWER: Yes, but not in this way by worshipers of Jehovah, as is seen by the way in which both Peter and the angel drew back when such worship was offered to them.
(2) i Cor. i: 2 — “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.”
2 Cor. 12: 8, 9 — “For this thing / besought the LORD thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power oj Chris tm&y rest upon me.”
Acts. 7: 59 — “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord and saying, Lo? d Jesus receive my spirit.”
SECOND PROPOSITION: Prayer is to be made to Christ.
(3) Ps. 45: ii — “So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy LORD; and worship thou him”
Jno. 5: 23 — “That all men should honor the son, even as they honor the father. He that honoreth not the son honoreth not the father which hath sent him.” (Compare Rev. 5: 8, 9, 12, 13 — “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Saying, with aloud voice, Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”)
THIRD PROPOSITION: It is God the Father’s will that ah men pay the same divine honor to the son as to himself.
(4) Heb. i: 6 — “And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.’”
Phil. 2:10, ii — “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD to the glory of God the Father.” (Compare Is. 45; 21-23. Where it is unto Jehovah that every knee is to bow, etc- “)
FOURTH PROPOSITION: The Son of God, Jesus, is to be
worshipped as God by angels and men.
GENERAL PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ is a person to be worshipped by angels and men, even as God the Father is worshipped,
SUMMARY: By the use of numerous Divine names, by the ascription of all the distinctively Divine attributes, by the predication of several Divine offices, by referring statements which in the Old Testament distinctly name Jehovah God as their subject to JESUS CHRIST in the New Testament, by coupling the name of JESUS CHRIST with that of God the Father in a way in which it would be impossible to couple that of any finite being with that of the Deity, and by the clear teaching that- JESUS CHRIST should be worshipped, even as God the Father is worshipped — in all these
unmistakable ways, God in His word distinctly proclaims that Jesus Christ is a Divine Being, is God.
NOTE: Whoever refuses to accept JESUS as his Divine Savior and LORD is guilty of the enormous sin of rejecting God. A man often thinks he is good because he never stole or never murdered or never cheated. “Of what great sin am I guilty? “he complacently asks. “You are guilty of the awful, damning sin of rejecting God,” we reply. But suppose one questions or denies His divinity. That does not change the fact nor lessen his guilt. Questioning or denying a fact never changes it. Suppose that one denies the goodness of a man who is in fact the soul of honor. It would not alter the fact but simply make the questioner guilty of awful slander. So denying the fact of the Deity of JESUS CHRIST does not make it any less a fact, but it does make the denier guilty of awf oi blasphemous slander.