John 1:1-32 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made…10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 **But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: **13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him…29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God!”
John the evangelist testifies that the Word of God is God and that the Word of God becomes flesh in Jesus Christ. John the Baptist also testifies that Jesus is the Son of God and that He baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
Mark 2:7-11 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is also the Son of Man. He is both God and Man. Only God can forgive sins. Jesus forgives sins. Therefore, Jesus is God.
Jesus tells the apostles: Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Jesus tells them to baptize in the Name of three different persons. These three different persons are the Blessed Trinity. These three persons are God.
Jesus gives His authority (which He received from His father) to His apostles so that they can forgive sins in His name:
John 20:21-23 "So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Only God has the authority to give His authority to others in order for them to be able to forgive sins in His name.
1 John 4:2-4 “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ (Word/God) has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
2 John 1:7-8 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ (Word/God) as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.”
If any person does not believe the Word of God to be God (He is one of the three persons who comprise the one God), then he is of the Antichrist.
If any person does not believe that the Word/God came in the flesh as Jesus Christ in order to redeem mankind, then he is of the Antichrist.
All three persons of the Blessed Trinity of God are He(s): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
John 14:26 “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 things that I said to you.”
John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”
Both God the Father and God the Son send God the Holy Spirit to the Church. He proceeds from both of them.
SHW
Frank ignored my post in #28 asking for his interpretation of Genesis 1, when God created man in OUR image?
Thanks!