WHAT IS THE "GIFT OF GOD?": PART FOUR

Yesterday, I began by saying that "the significance of faith is determined by its object." All forms of Christianity, including those groups considered cults by mainstream Christianity, profess to believe in Jesus. That is true. I closed with the statement: "It (our Father, child relationship with God) comes from believing in Jesus (Jn. 3:16), the Jesus of the Bible." That is also true. So let's look at what the Bible says about the identity of Jesus. The Bible reveals that Jesus is God:

JESUS SAID SO: “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God” (Jn. 5:17-18). “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by” (Jn. 8:58-59). “I and My Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him” (Jn. 10:30-31). Note: The Jews believed that for a mere man to claim to be God was blasphemy and worthy of death, and this explains the thrice repeated reference to the Jews seeking to kill Jesus after He had made such remarkable claims.

ISAIAH SAID SO: “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). Note: "Immanuel" is defined in Matthew 1:23 as "God with us." Isaiah wrote, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).

"DOUBTING THOMAS" SAID SO: “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).

THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID SO: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). “Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen” (Rom. 9:5).

THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SAID SO: “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” (Heb.1:8).

THE APOSTLE JOHN SAID SO: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” "And the Word was made 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" (Jn. 1:1, 14). “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:20).

So the object of a true believer's faith has to be the Jesus of the Bible, the Son of God. To be continued.