Free said:
What don't you understand? Phil. 2 is clear that Jesus is God and Rom. 10 states that one must confess that "Jesus is Lord".
What don’t I understand? Well, lets look at it for a moment.
Now this does not say that Jesus is God or the same as God. It says, “He thought it not robbery to be equal with God.†Being equal does not equate to being the same thing.
As I've stated in numerous posts....The Jewish "Law of Agency" states that the Agent is seen as the Primary....without being the Primary....This fits perfectly with what Jesus claimed as being the "sent one" and this verse equating him with God (as an agent of God is seen as God).
You know there are some fascinating instances in scripture that give us insight into things like this, so let’s take something from scripture because it is right for us to do so now.
Don't forget just about every passage dealing with Jesus' relationship to his heavenly Father.....always subservient...never equal....however to the disciples...he could be construed as being equal through agency.....
It is recorded in scripture that a king or ruler would offer to a certain subject, reward because they pleased them. And what was it they offered? They were offered anything up to half of the kingdom. Now scripture records that the subject was content with far less than half the kingdom but why would a king or ruler offer up to half – and not more? You see by offering up to half they were actually making the subject equal. They would be given authority, and dominion over others of the king’s subjects, in fact, being able to stand in his place. But it did not make them the king. You see, the king exalted that subject higher than any other and the only person that did not come under their authority was the King Himself.
And this is the relationship that God, our heavenly Father, has with His son. Not that he has been given half of God’s kingdom but as one who is under subjection to His Father, Jesus is the one to whom has been given all power and authority above all else. All except Himself of course. Therefore He thought it not robbery to be equal (but not the same as) God. And this is spelled out precisely and without any element of doubt in scripture.
Consider what it says in Corinthians 15.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
Is Jesus, Lord of all creation? Yes He is. Is He my Lord? Yes He is. Because His Father has exalted Him above every other. As scripture rightly says, ‘Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 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.’ And this spells out the right perspective on their relationship. Jesus is Lord and His father is God.
Right on the money....
Now if you cannot accept this, that’s fine. Continue believing as you will. I am not going to deny you your beliefs, nor the relationship that you have with God.
That's for everyone to decide....
But two things I ask. Please refrain from taking the so-called mantle of one who sees himself as having the mind of Christ (as someone else on this board has) and judging others to be unfit for the kingdom of God merely on the basis of a doctrine that does not agree with yours.
There's more than two.......
Secondly, read my posts on this forum, and ask yourself, “is it possible that this man could be born again?†And when you have reached your conclusion ask yourself another question. “Where dos that leave me in respect of my beliefs?â€Â
