Derick Mackenzie's Blog

IS JESUS REALLY GOD?

Many argue that Jesus is not God. That he was just a man. A good man, even a man who was greatly used by God, but, just a mortal man.

The so-called Jehovah's Witnesses maintain this, as do the Muslims. The JW's claim to believe the Bible and the Muslims also give the Bible place as a holy book. It is common for people to give the Bible some place, and to pick and choose which parts they are prepared to believe. But, of course, if we don't believe the whole Bible, we don't actually believe any of it.

The scriptures describe him as 'The only begotten Son of God'. These words on their own tell us who he is. If he is the 'only begotten' this means that he came forth from God in a unique way. We know he is higher than the angels as Hebrews 1: 6 tells us: '...LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.' So if he's higher than the angels - who is he? And, only God is to be worshipped. Verse 8 tells us: '...UNTO THE SON HE SAITH, THY THRONE, O GOD, IS FOR EVER AND EVER'. And Matthew 1: 23: '...THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL, WHICH BEING INTERPRETED IS, GOD WITH US.

So I'm sure you can see from the very few quotes offered here how ridiculous it is to maintain that Christ is not God.

If Christ had not been God he couldn't have saved anyone - not even himself. The first person he delivered from death was himself. There was no effort involved in this, as Acts 2: 24 tells us: '...HAVING LOOSED THE PAINS OF DEATH: BECAUSE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE THAT HE SHOULD BE HOLDEN OF IT. Not possible. Why not possible? Because he is God. The infinitely holy and righteous God, who cannot die and cannot suffer.

But he did suffer, I hear you say. Yes, he did - but therein lies the mystery.

He had to become man to suffer and to die. He suffered and died as a man, but he was, and is, God and man - both.

In Genesis 2: 7 we read: 'AND THE LORD GOD FORMED MAN OF THE DUST OF THE GROUND'. When Jesus Christ became man he was formed of the same dust in the virgin Mary's womb. After he died and rose again he ascended into heaven with the same body which had been formed from this very same dust. So, it is quite true to say that the dust of the earth sits upon heaven's throne.

What is the point of all this?

The point is this. It would have been impossible for God to save anyone if Jesus Christ had not done this. Because in that God is infinitely righteous, it means that it is impossible for him to sin. '...HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF.' (2 Timothy 2: 13). He cannot break his own laws. That is impossible. He must punish sin. Mankind's sin must be punished. If God saved without punishing sin it would be sinful. If you or I are to be punished for our sin, because it is against an infinitely holy God it therefore requires an infinite punishment. Our souls are immortal, the punishment must be of infinite duration - it will never end.

Herein steps Christ.

When the Son of God was nailed to the cross, enduring the infinite agonies of his passion, God the Father was the one unleashing the worst of his fury upon him for the sin of mankind. Even if only one sinner were to be saved, or if he was being punished for only one sin - he would still have had to endure all of God's wrath.

Who can enter into those awful immortal words from Mark 15: 34: 'MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAS THOU FORSAKEN ME?'

This was the Son, beloved of the father from all eternity, without beginning or end, enduring all of God's wrath for sin - nothing spared. This is deeply, deeply spiritual.

If God opens this up to you, you'll experience something like nothing you've ever known before, and you'll be thankful. Very, very thankful - though you know nothing about it now.

Do you know what the greatest sin is? It is to ignore God's command to look to the Son that you would be saved. This is treating him with contempt. You won't if you're wise.

'HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION...' (Hebrews 2: 3).

How can I be saved? How do I find God?

'BUT THOU, WHEN THOU PRAYEST, ENTER INTO THY CLOSET, AND WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, PRAY TO THY FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET; AND THY FATHER WHICH SEETH IN SECRET SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY.' (Matthew 6: 6).

Ask. Do it now.