ARIANISM - BELIEF THAT JESUS AND GOD ARE NOT EQUAL
There are many in various religious groups who teach a variety of doctrines that impugn the Deity of Christ. This is done in many different ways, but the end result is always Arianism. Let us look at some of those doctrines and then examine the scriptures and compare.
1) There are some that teach that Jesus was just a man who was given miraculous power. Since He didn’t do any miracles until after His baptism they believe He was a man and that he received miraculous power at His Baptism.
2) (A) Others believe that Jesus was a created being, but not necessarily a man. They abuse passages such as Col 1:13-15: “{13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: {14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: {15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of every creature:” There is emphasis placed on firstborn to indicate the teaching that Jesus was created. These believe that possibly Jesus was an angel created before the others.
(B) There are some within this group who believe that He was created especially for the task of dying and was more than an angel but less than God. They use Heb 1:4-6: “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. {5} For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? {6} And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.”
3) There are still others who believe that Jesus was equal with God but isn’t any longer. This group might turn to Phil 2:5-7: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: {7} But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”. These believe that Christ never regained the equality with God that He had.
There are probably others, but time is short. What does the Bible say about the relationship between God and Jesus? First, it is essential that we understand that Jesus allowed himself to be limited during his earthly existence. Those limitations are not applicable to him in his eternal form. Let me explain. While Jesus was on earth he had to grow up and learn like any human. Remember that his first miracle was after his baptism. That means that up to that point He had lived a non-miraculous life. Even the knowledge and wisdom that He used to impress the men at the temple when He was twelve had been learned not miraculously given. That should embarrass all of us a little to know that a twelve year- old knew the scriptures better than we do, and maybe better than we ever will in our lives. Jesus even during His ministry was limited. In speaking of the day of His return Jesus said: (Mark 13:32) “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” While Jesus was on earth He didn’t know when his return would be. Does He know now? One of the characteristics of God is that He is omniscient (all-knowing). If Jesus is not Omniscient, then He is not God. Remember He limited Himself while He was here.
Let’s look at the three doctrines above. Number one: Was Jesus simply a man? He took on the form of a man, was born as a man, was tempted as a man, died as a man, and limited Himself, but even for all that the Bible clearly teaches that he was not just a man. He got humanity from Mary because she was his mother, but he inherited Deity from God since God was his father. Jesus was while on earth what never had been nor ever will be again, He was God and man. Before this occurred, however, Jesus had been only God and afterwards he was again only God. (John 1:1) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Number two: Both of these assert the same premise, that Jesus was created. Again we must draw a bit of distinction between his eternal existence and his earthly existence. Jesus was made into human form, but he was not created. The verses used by these two doctrines have been taken out of context and misapplied or misunderstood. First, (Heb 1:2) “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Heb 1:8-12) “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. {9} Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. {10} And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: {11} They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; {12} And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.” These verses surrounding those used to prove his inferiority clearly state that Jesus is God (verse 8) and that He made the worlds (verse 2). (Col 1:15-17) “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: {16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: {17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Here it is clear by following the thought further than the above doctrine would that Jesus created everything that has been created. Obviously, he did not create himself so He must be eternal. What then does it mean ‘the firstborn of every creature’? (1 Cor 15:21-23) “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. {22} For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. {23} But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” Paul clarifies in another passage that Jesus is the first to rise from the dead never to die again. There were others before him who had been raised from the dead, but all of them died again. Christ is the firstborn, or first fruits of the eternal resurrection.
Number three: Indeed Jesus did give up his equality with God and took on the human form. He didn’t remain in that state after the crucifixion, however. (Phil 2:9-11) “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: {10} That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; {11} And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” The name of Jesus is now above every name, including of necessity the Father’s name for the time being. (Acts 4:12) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” It is Jesus’ name by which we are saved. The Father all-powerful as he is can not save anyone apart from the name of Christ.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal in every way, however, it was and is necessary for there to be a chain of command so to speak. By choosing to come to earth Christ lowered himself and became submissive to the Father’s will. It had been decided before they even created the world. At present Christ has all authority and will have until the resurrection at which time he will give it back over to the Father. (Mat 28:18) “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” And (1 Cor 15:24-28) “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. {25} For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. {26} The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. {27} For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. {28} And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”
There are many in various religious groups who teach a variety of doctrines that impugn the Deity of Christ. This is done in many different ways, but the end result is always Arianism. Let us look at some of those doctrines and then examine the scriptures and compare.
1) There are some that teach that Jesus was just a man who was given miraculous power. Since He didn’t do any miracles until after His baptism they believe He was a man and that he received miraculous power at His Baptism.
2) (A) Others believe that Jesus was a created being, but not necessarily a man. They abuse passages such as Col 1:13-15: “{13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: {14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: {15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN of every creature:” There is emphasis placed on firstborn to indicate the teaching that Jesus was created. These believe that possibly Jesus was an angel created before the others.
(B) There are some within this group who believe that He was created especially for the task of dying and was more than an angel but less than God. They use Heb 1:4-6: “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. {5} For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? {6} And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.”
3) There are still others who believe that Jesus was equal with God but isn’t any longer. This group might turn to Phil 2:5-7: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: {7} But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”. These believe that Christ never regained the equality with God that He had.
There are probably others, but time is short. What does the Bible say about the relationship between God and Jesus? First, it is essential that we understand that Jesus allowed himself to be limited during his earthly existence. Those limitations are not applicable to him in his eternal form. Let me explain. While Jesus was on earth he had to grow up and learn like any human. Remember that his first miracle was after his baptism. That means that up to that point He had lived a non-miraculous life. Even the knowledge and wisdom that He used to impress the men at the temple when He was twelve had been learned not miraculously given. That should embarrass all of us a little to know that a twelve year- old knew the scriptures better than we do, and maybe better than we ever will in our lives. Jesus even during His ministry was limited. In speaking of the day of His return Jesus said: (Mark 13:32) “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” While Jesus was on earth He didn’t know when his return would be. Does He know now? One of the characteristics of God is that He is omniscient (all-knowing). If Jesus is not Omniscient, then He is not God. Remember He limited Himself while He was here.
Let’s look at the three doctrines above. Number one: Was Jesus simply a man? He took on the form of a man, was born as a man, was tempted as a man, died as a man, and limited Himself, but even for all that the Bible clearly teaches that he was not just a man. He got humanity from Mary because she was his mother, but he inherited Deity from God since God was his father. Jesus was while on earth what never had been nor ever will be again, He was God and man. Before this occurred, however, Jesus had been only God and afterwards he was again only God. (John 1:1) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Number two: Both of these assert the same premise, that Jesus was created. Again we must draw a bit of distinction between his eternal existence and his earthly existence. Jesus was made into human form, but he was not created. The verses used by these two doctrines have been taken out of context and misapplied or misunderstood. First, (Heb 1:2) “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Heb 1:8-12) “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. {9} Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. {10} And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: {11} They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; {12} And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.” These verses surrounding those used to prove his inferiority clearly state that Jesus is God (verse 8) and that He made the worlds (verse 2). (Col 1:15-17) “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: {16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: {17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Here it is clear by following the thought further than the above doctrine would that Jesus created everything that has been created. Obviously, he did not create himself so He must be eternal. What then does it mean ‘the firstborn of every creature’? (1 Cor 15:21-23) “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. {22} For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. {23} But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” Paul clarifies in another passage that Jesus is the first to rise from the dead never to die again. There were others before him who had been raised from the dead, but all of them died again. Christ is the firstborn, or first fruits of the eternal resurrection.
Number three: Indeed Jesus did give up his equality with God and took on the human form. He didn’t remain in that state after the crucifixion, however. (Phil 2:9-11) “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: {10} That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; {11} And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” The name of Jesus is now above every name, including of necessity the Father’s name for the time being. (Acts 4:12) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” It is Jesus’ name by which we are saved. The Father all-powerful as he is can not save anyone apart from the name of Christ.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal in every way, however, it was and is necessary for there to be a chain of command so to speak. By choosing to come to earth Christ lowered himself and became submissive to the Father’s will. It had been decided before they even created the world. At present Christ has all authority and will have until the resurrection at which time he will give it back over to the Father. (Mat 28:18) “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” And (1 Cor 15:24-28) “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. {25} For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. {26} The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. {27} For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. {28} And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”
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