Redemptionsong
Well-Known Member
I find John 20:28 does Not change what Jesus said earlier at John 20:17.
Even today we hear a person exclaim in front of a reporter, " Oh, my god ! " and we know the person is Not addressing the reporter as their god.
Stephen was comforted by what he saw according to Acts of the Apostles 7:55-56
Notice the heavenly position that Jesus takes being at the right hand of God. This is also in harmony with Revelation 3:12; Revelation 3:21.
Jesus appeared before the person of his God - Hebrews 9:24
Stephen calls out (verses 59-60) to Jesus and rightly so because God gave Jesus the Resurrection Power to unlock the grave - Revelation 1:18.
Stephen dying request was that those stoning him would Not have their sin held against them, so that Jesus would also resurrect them.
I don't accept that God's inspired word would include an exclamation that held no meaning! The risen Lord is our God.
The reason that Jesus Christ is OUR God is because he dwells amongst us, and is WITHIN us. The body of Christ, the Church, is a spiritual body sealed with the Holy Spirit. If a disciple does not have the Holy Spirit then he/she is not a 'Christian'. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus that a believer must be 'born again'. The whole message of salvation in the New Testament is about cleansing from sin, and this can only happen if your spirit is renewed. Only God can provide the Holy Spirit, so only God can save.
Think for a moment about the position that Christ holds NOW. The Gospels are complicated because the person of Jesus Christ is both a man, come as a suffering servant, and the Spirit of God. But what has Jesus Christ become? Look at the following passages:
Daniel 7:13,14.'I saw in the night visions, and, behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven [the ascension], and came to the ancient of days [God the Father], and they brought him [Jesus Christ] near before him.
And there was given him [Jesus Christ] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him [Jesus Christ]: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.'
I've added my explanation in red, but the text is pretty clear even without my words.
Now look at corresponding passages in the New Testament that confirm the vision of Daniel.
Colossians 1:16. '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:' [The next verse begins 'And he is head of the body, the Church:', which proves that verse 16 is referring to Jesus Christ]
Ephesians 1:20-23. 'Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.'
Jude 1:25. 'To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.' [If God has dominion for ever then it is Jesus Christ to whom that dominion is given. How can Jesus Christ not, therefore, be our God?]
Revelation 1;5,6. 'And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.' [The Son of God is able to make us, the body of Christ, kings and priests unto God his Father because he has filled us with the Spirit of sonship. The glory and dominion belongs to Christ.]
Do you serve Jesus Christ, or a God that you don't know?