How can the Man Jesus be God?
This post was written in response to Art Bidwell’s claim that Jesus is not God.
Let's make certain that we are all speaking of the same thing. Art, if by your statement you mean the "body of the man, Jesus" that had flesh, bones, and blood then you are correct.
All humans have spirits that are eternal and cannot die unless God Himself speaks them out of existence.
8 But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Job 32:8
21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? Ecclesiastes 3:21
8 No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it. Ecclesiastes 8:8
7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart. Proverbs 20:27
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:11
The scriptures declares that a spirit is invisible.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17
If that is true (and it is), we can now conclude that when I see myself (my body) in the mirror, I see the exact image of my spirit which is invisible and can never be seen. My body therefore is the only visible part of me. I, my human spirit which God spoke into existence out of nothing, am inside of the body God created just for me hence whenever you see my body, you have seen my human spirit.
The scriptures also declares that God is Spirit.
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
John 4:24
The question becomes, how can Jesus, the man be God? According to the scriptures, the man Jesus's (the body) human Spirit was God Himself thereby making the man Jesus the God-man. Listen to the scriptures:
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested (seen) in the flesh, justified in the Spirit (speaking of the when God called the man to approach Him in eternity pass - Prov. 8), seen by angels (Jesus is the only God the angels ever seen and will see), preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory (the resurrection). 1 Timothy 3:16
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, THAT GOD WAS IN (the man Jesus) CHRIST reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Because of this Jesus can make statements like this and it is absolutely true:
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." John 14:7
This is extremely hard for humans to understand because we think in the physical dimension and attempt to reason our way into believing but that means we would have to be capable of understanding fully our Creator God, which is impossible. Even the disciples after three years of watching Jesus do that which only God can do, could not comprehend this truth.
8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? HE WHO HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, AND THE FATHER (SPIRIT) IN ME (inside My body)? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; BUT THE FATHER WHO DWELLS (LIVES) IN ME DOES THE WORKS. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the FATHER IN ME, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. John 14:8-11
Just to provide a little further scriptural site on this, the LORD God is holy, UNAPPROACHABLE (1 Tim. 6:15) and cannot look upon sin (Hab. 1:13). In order to create the world which includes the heavens and earth, He had to humble or veil Himself from seeing it (Ps. 113:4-6). That veil is the body of the man Jesus. Godhead, Father-Son-Holy Spirit, is the One True God as the Spirit that has always existed and needs absolutely nothing and no one. He is life and the source of life. Jesus, the body of the man not the member of the Godhead, was created out of nothing before anything else was created, crucified by the Godhead, buried, resurrected, and glorified. David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Daniel, John, and Paul wrote about this. Since the post is long, I will just list the scriptures. I will attempt to list them chronologically. Prov. 8:22-36, Ps. 2:6-8, Ps. 65:4, Jer. 30:21, Rev. 13:8, Dan. 7:13-14
One may say at this time, how can this be? The answer is "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8 Which means that God does whatever He choses to do, everyone can witness the effects of what He does but can understand His reasons nor purpose unless He reveals it. No one can hinder it in any way nor stop Him.
As it is written: 3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Psalms 115:3
17 All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. Isaiah 40:17 and again;
34b and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?" Daniel 4:34b-35
This mystery of the revelation, of God's attributes, God's reconciliation plan, and God's redeemer which was hidden within God is now reality.
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 1 Peter 1:20
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. Romans 16:25-27
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?" 35 "Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?" 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36
Apologies for the long post. Hope that helps.
