“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
His name would be Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He is God
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word was God (see v. 14) and the Word (Jesus) was made flesh.
And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was….Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Jesus existed with the Father before the foundation of this world.
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Jesus declared that He was the self-existent one–the “I AM”–that He existed before Abraham.
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”
“I AM” is the name for God.
When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”–He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.
Jesus forgave sins, which only God can do.
And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Thomas testified that Jesus was both Lord and God.
For to which of the angels did He [God] ever say: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You?” And again: “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.” But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
The Father addresses the Son as God.
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus is everlasting and eternal.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
Christ’s goings forth have been from everlasting.
which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Jesus (God) alone has immortality.
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Jesus is the first and last, with keys to the grave
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and o f those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work our your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Jesus voluntarily gives up His divine privilege to become our Savior.
“Doesn’t the Bible teach that Jesus was the “first born” of all creation and as such a created being not co-existent with the Father from eternity?”
The text in question is Colossians 1:15 which calls Jesus the first born of every creature. The Greek word here is prototokos meaning the pre-eminent one–the one who has the privileges and prerogatives of God. Jesus is first born not in the sense of time but in the sense of privilege. All the privileges of the first born are His. David was the eighth son of Jesse, yet called the first born. Jesus declared that He was the “I AM” (John 8:58) meaning the self-existent one. He said, “before Abraham was, I AM.” Isaiah the prophet calls Him the everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). Micah declares that His origin is from everlasting (Micah 5:2). John affirms, “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.” (John 1:1). Jesus had the privileges and prerogatives of God. He thought equality with God not a thing to be grasped while the world was lost, so He voluntarily left heaven to become a man. He dwelt in human flesh, fought temptations’ battles as we fight them, and overcame in our behalf (Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 2:14,17).
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