Some actions are attributed to both God and Jesus
Christ
Luke 8:38–39 The man from whom the demons had gone out
begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39“Return to your home, and declare what God has done for
you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole
town what Jesus had done for him. NET
Mark 2:5–7 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6Now some of the experts in the
law were sitting there, turning these things over in their
minds: 7“Why does this man speak this way? He is
blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” NET
Although the teachers of the law were mistaken in thinking
that Jesus could not forgive sins, they were correct in
asserting that the authority and capacity to forgive sins
belongs to God.
Note: There is one God, the Father – and one Lord,
Jesus Christ
1Cor 8:4–6 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols,
we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there
is no God but one.”
5For although there may be so-called gods
in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and
many “lords”— 6
yet for us there is one God, the Father, from
whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord,
Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom
we exist. ESV
Verses that refer to the Father alone as being God, may be
using “God” to refer to the position of sovereign over all (cf.
1Tim 6:15) – i.e. they may be using “God” to refer to an
exclusivity of position rather than exclusivity of divine nature.
(This may also be the case with other verses that speak of
there being only one “God”.) Such a meaning is: consistent
with the words translated as “God”/“god” in the OT originally
speaking primarily of strength; consistent with the references
to the Father being Jesus Christ’s God (cf. God is both Jesus
Christ’s God and his Father, p. 30); and not contrary to Jesus
Christ being fully divine. However, such an interpretation is
not standard Christian theology.
d) Jesus Christ Is Treated like God Is
The fact that Christians relate to (or treat) Jesus Christ in ways
in which they relate to God, further reflects Jesus Christ’s
identification with God and that he is God’s Son. Thus the
teaching in this section supplements the teaching in the
previous sections.
Jesus Christ is worshiped
Matt 14:33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying,
“Truly you are the Son of God.” ESV
The disciples worshiped Jesus as the Son of God.
Jesus Christ is honored and glorified
John 5:22–23 Furthermore, the Father does not judge
anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23so that
all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The
one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father
who sent him. NET
2Pet 3:18 [PETER, TO BELIEVERS:] But grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory be to him
now and forever! Amen. NCV™
People pray to Jesus Christ
John 14:14 [JESUS, TO HIS DISCIPLES:] If you ask me anything
in my name, I will do it. NET
Acts 7:59–60 They continued to stone Stephen while he
prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
60Then he fell to his
knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this
sin against them!” When he had said this, he died. NET
People obey and serve Jesus Christ
Matt 28:19–20a [JESUS, TO HIS DISCIPLES:] Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded you. NET
James 1:1a From James, a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus
Christ. CEV
People have faith in Jesus Christ
John 14:1 Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have
faith in God and have faith in me. CEV
30 3. Jesus Christ
People put their hope in Jesus Christ
1Thes 1:3b [PAUL, TO THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS :] And we
thank him that you continue to be strong because of your
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. NCV™
e) Jesus Christ Is Under God’s Authority
This section looks at the concept of Jesus Christ being
subordinate to God in regard to authority – which involves
“functional subordination” – as opposed to subordination or
inferiority in regard to essence or being.
The concept of Jesus Christ being eternally subordinate to
God (rather than only during his incarnation) is a historical
doctrine that is still debated by Christian scholars. As such,
some would disagree with or wish to qualify propositions put
forward in this section.
God is both Jesus Christ’s God and his Father
John 20:17 Jesus replied, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet
ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I
am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and
your God.’” NET
Eph 1:3, 17 [PAUL, TO BELIEVERS:] Blessed is the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. … 17I pray
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may
give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing
knowledge of him, … NET
The expression “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”
(v. 3) also occurs in Romans 15:6, 2 Corinthians 1:3 and
1 Peter 1:3. 2 Corinthians 11:31 uses the similar expression,
“The God and Father of the Lord Jesus …”
Jesus Christ is described as being subordinate to God
1Cor 11:3 [PAUL:] But I want you to know that Christ is the
head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and
God is the head of Christ. NET
1Cor 15:28 But when everything has been put under him,
then the Son himself will also become subject to the one who
put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. ISV
Jesus Christ was chosen and sent by God
Luke 9:35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my
Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!” NCV™
John 8:42 Jesus replied, “If God were your Father, you would
love me, for I have come from God and am now here. I have
not come on my own initiative, but he sent me. NET
Jesus Christ is God’s servant
Acts 4:30 [THE EARLY BELIEVERS, PRAYING TO GOD:] Stretch
out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles
may be performed through the name of your holy Servant
Jesus. GNT
Heb 8:2 He [Christ] serves as High Priest in the Most Holy
Place, that is, in the real tent which was put up by the Lord,
not by human hands. GNT
God’s seniority is reflected by the things that he has
done for Jesus Christ
John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has
granted the Son also to have life in himself. ESV
Col 1:19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in
the Son … NET
Heb 1:1–2 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God
spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days
he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir
of all things, through whom also he created the world. ESV
d) Jesus Christ as Lord of All
God has made Jesus Christ Lord of all things, to rule over all
creation on God’s behalf.
The NT speaks of Jesus Christ’s lordship as being initiated or
affirmed, in him being pronounced Lord of all upon his postresurrection exaltation to God’s right hand. However, note
that some verses suggest that in some sense at least he was
Lord of all things prior to this, speaking of his prior power or
authority over all things.
Following his resurrection, God exalted Jesus Christ
to his right hand . . .
Eph 1:20 This power he exercised in Christ when he raised
him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly realms … NET
In seating Jesus Christ at his right hand, God exalted Jesus
Christ in honor and authority above every other being.
. . . and God made Jesus Christ Lord of all
Acts 10:36 You know the message he [God] sent to the people
of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus
Christ, who is Lord of all. GNT
Phil 2:9–11 As a result [of Jesus being obedient and dying]
God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every
name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in
heaven and on earth and under the earth –
11and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
NET
Verses 10–11 speak of all people in the future acknowledging
Jesus Christ’s status, which itself is a current reality.
God has given Jesus Christ authority and power over
all things
Matt 28:18 Then Jesus came up and said to them [his
disciples],“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given
to me. NET
Phil 3:20b–21 Our Lord Jesus Christ 21has power over
everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like
his own glorious body. CEV
God has entrusted everything to Jesus Christ – and
made him heir of all things
John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has put everything in
his hands. ISV
Heb 1:1–2 [THE WRITER, TO JEWISH BELIEVERS:] Long ago, at
many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by
the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by
his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through
whom also he created the world. ESV