Basic Doctrines

The Trinity

 

The Deity of Christ

The second doctrine in the “big five” is the deity of Christ, the belief that Jesus Christ is Himself God.  This and the next doctrine we’ll cover, the resurrection of Jesus, are the doctrines we need to believe to be saved according to Romans 10:9.  So, let’s look at the reasons we believe Jesus is God:

Jesus is called “God” in the Bible:

The Father recognizes Jesus as God: Heb. 1:8

Jesus is worshipped by all the angels of God: Heb. 1:6

Thomas recognizes Jesus as God and calls Him “God” without rebuke: John 20:28

Jesus claimed to be God: John 5:18

The Jews recognized Jesus’ claim: John 10:44

The same terms and descriptions are used of God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament.  So, Jesus is God:

The First and the Last: Isa. 48:12; Rev. 1:8-11, 22:12-13, 20

Creator: Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16

The Light of the New Jerusalem: Isa. 60:19-20; Rev. 21:23

From eternity past: Michah 5:2; Ps 90:2

The Almighty God: Gen 17:1; Rev. 1:8-18

However, Jesus was also fully man when He walked the earth:

Jesus discarded the “form of God” but not the nature of God:  Phil. 2:5-8

Jesus didn’t know when He was coming back:  Matt 24:36

 

The Bodily Resurrection of Christ

This is the second doctrine upon our salvation relies and is listed in Romans 10:9.  Many cults, the Jehovah’s Witnesses for example, deny the fact that Jesus rose from the dead in the same body which died on the cross.  Here are some passages supporting the historic Christian view:

Jesus predicted He would raise His own body:  John 2:18-22

Jesus presented to Thomas the same body which died on the cross with the identifying scars and marks: John 20:27-28

The Father raised Jesus from the dead: Gal. 1:1

The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead: Rom. 8:11

Now Jehovah’s Witnesses (The Watchtower Organization) denies Jesus was raised from the dead.  They even deny Jesus died on a cross.  They believe He died on a “torture stake,” a single upright post with Jesus’ hands nailed by a single nail above His head and a single nail driven through His feet.  Here are some of the passages they use to support this belief that Jesus did not rise bodily:

1 Peter 3:18 – Jehovah’s Witnesses claim Jesus was raised as a spirit creature.  In the New World Translation (NWT), Jehovah’s Witnesses’ own translation, they claim that Jesus was put to death in the flesh and made alive “in the spirit.”  A couple of points here:  First that “in the spirit” is not the same thing as “as a spirit.”  John was “in the spirit” on the Lord’s Day in Rev 1:10.  Even the Jehovah’s Witness at your door will have to admit John did not become a spirit in Rev 1:10, and if so, then 1 Peter 3:18 does not say Jesus was raised as a spirit either.

1 Cor. 15:45 – Jehovah’s Witnesses see this as teaching that, since Adam was a physical flesh and bone person, Jesus must have been made into a spirit creature.  That is not what the passage is teaching.  In verses 3-8 of this chapter, Paul describes Jesus as being buried and having risen from the dead.  That which was buried is that which was risen, and Paul supports that by telling us that Jesus was seen by the apostles and over 500 others in His risen form.  The whole passage from 15:42-55 speaks of resurrection from the dead.  Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe they will be raised as spirits, why should we think Jesus was?  This passage talks about our bodies taking on immortality, not losing anythng.  Jesus did not become a spirit.  He has always been the Word from eternity past.  He now has the form of a man, a flesh and blood man (Phil 2:5-11; 1 Tim. 2:5).

Luke 24:36-39 – Jehovah’s Witnesses believe since Jesus was raised as a spirit, He must have materialized bodies to convince the disciples that He was risen. If Jesus manufactured a body to convince the disciples that He had risen from the dead, then the disciples must have expected to see His body as evidence of His resurrection.  Therefore, Jesus deceived them into believing a lie, that He was raised physically.  As your JW friend if Jesus is a deceiver.  They will say, “no.”  Then the body He showed them must be His.

John 20:14-15 –  Mary didn’t recognize Jesus at the tomb.  So, the JWs will tell you he must have manifested a form which looked like the gardner (John 20:15).  But there are several reason Mary may not have recognized Jesus:  First, she didn’t expect to see Him alive, she was looking for a body.  Second, it was dark (20:1).  Thirdly, her eyes were filled with tears (20:15).  Fourthly, she wasn’t looking at him (20:16).  And, fifthly, Jesus was beaten beyond all recognition (Isa 52:14).  When He spoke, she recognized His voice and who He was.

John 21:4-7 – The disciples did not recognize Jesus, so the Watchtower teaches He must not have been in the same form that had walked with them.  Yet, the disciples did not recognize Jesus earlier under similar circumstances (Mark 6:49-50).  So, not recognizing Jesus is not to be seen as evidence that He had a different body.

John 20:26-27 – Jesus walks through walls?  The Watchtower teaches Jesus must not have had a fleshly body since He could walk through walls.  The assumptions are that Jesus’ body has the same properties as ours and that He walked through walls to enter the room.  Jesus was now in his glorified body having gone to the Father in heaven (20:17).  Once He had done so, the disciples could touch Him and inspect the body.  That glorified body can pass from Heaven to earth without having to pass through anything.  Jesus could have simply appeared in the room with the disciples.

Luke 24:13-31 – The disciples on the road to Emmaus didn’t recognize Jesus.  This has fallen into disuse by many JWs because the answer is right in the text.  Yet, some will still bring it up.  In verses 16 and 31 of this passage tell us that it was the disciples’ eyes which were kept from recognizing Jesus, not His appearance.  This actually would support the idea that Jesus was in the same body which died on Calvary since it was necessary to keep their eyes from recognizing Him.

 

Salvation by Grace Alone

C.S. Lewis once walked in on a discussion about what made Christianity different from all other world religions.  “Grace,” he said.  And, he was right.  All other religions require works in order to please their god.  Christianity requires only our acceptance of the gift of God and a commitment to Him.  This is very clear in Scripture.  Here are a few passages supporting this doctrine:

Rom. 3:21-26

Rom. 4:1-5

Eph. 2:5-10

 

Vicarious Atonement

The idea of the vicarious atonement is the simple idea that Jesus Christ died for you.  He died for sinners, but if you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have come and died for you.

Here are some verses which support this view:

1 Cor. 6:19-20

1 Pet. 3:18

2 Cor. 5:21

Rom. 4:5

Rom. 8:1

 

Is the Holy Spirit God?

Before we get to that questions, many cultists believe the Holy Spirit isn’t even a Person let alone Almighty God.  The Holy Spirit, like Jesus (Phil 2:5-8) and the Father likewise (John 14:9), has humility as one of His attributes.  Since He also wrote the Bible (1 Pet. 2:21) it is difficult to see the traits of a person in the Scriptures.  Difficult, but not impossible; note the following:

• The Holy Spirit teaches: John 14:26
• He speaks: Acts 13:2
• He makes decisions: Acts 15:28
• He can be lied to: Acts 5:3-4
• He forbids: Acts 16:6-7
• He searches the things of God: 1 Cor 2:10-11
• He apportions spiritual gifts: 1 Cor 12:11
• He intercedes for us and has a mind: Rom 8:26-27
• He glorifies Christ: John 16:13-14
• He can be blasphemed: Mark 3:29
• He is eternal: Heb. 9:14
• He is omnipresent: Ps 139:7-10
• He is omniscient: 1 Cor 2:10-11
• He is omnipotent: Luke 1:35

 

So, the Holy Spirit shows the attributes of God.  Is he ever called God?  He is called God directly by Peter in Acts 5:3-4.

Has He ever acted as God?  He, along with the Father and Son, raised Jesus: Rom 8:11, Gal 1:1, John 2:18-22.

From what you see here, you should be able to share with anyone that the Holy Spirit is not only a Person but God Almighty, third Person of the Trinity.

 

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
⁵  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
⁶  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
⁷  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
⁸  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

2 Peter 1:21 (ESV)
²¹  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 (ESV)
²⁶  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Acts 13:2 (ESV)
²  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 15:28 (ESV)
²⁸  For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:

Acts 5:3-4 (ESV)
³  But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
⁴  While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”

Acts 16:6-7 (ESV)
⁶  And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
⁷  And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

 

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
¹¹  For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 12:11 (ESV)
¹¹  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Romans 8:26-27 (ESV)
²⁶  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
²⁷  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

John 16:13-14 (ESV)
¹³  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
¹⁴  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Mark 3:29 (ESV)
²⁹  but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”

Hebrews 9:14 (ESV)
¹⁴  how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

 

Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV)
⁷  Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
⁸  If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
⁹  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰  even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

 

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
¹¹  For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Luke 1:35 (ESV)
³⁵  And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

John 14:9 (ESV)
⁹  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Acts 5:3-4 (ESV)
³  But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
⁴  While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”

Romans 8:11 (ESV)
¹¹  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

John 2:18-22 (ESV)
¹⁸  So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”
¹⁹  Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
²⁰  The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”
²¹  But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
²²  When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Galatians 1:1-2 (ESV)
¹  Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
²  and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: