For Those Who Deny Jesus Christ IS Almighty God
There are some, like the Unitarians and Jehovah’s Witnesses, who argue, that the Bible does not teach, that Jesus Christ is “Almighty God”. The English adjective “almighty”, has the meaning of “all-powerful, unrestricted power”. It is interesting that, the Jehovah’s Witnesses in their New World Translation (NWT), have rendered the Hebrew, “êl Gibbôr”, which is one of the Titles for Jesus Christ, in Isaiah 9:6, as “Mighty God” (2003 edition). This is also the reading in the next chapter, the same Hebrew is used for Jehovah, and is also “Mighty God” (10:21). In John 1:1 they argue that the correct way to translate the Greek, “kai theos ēn ho logos”, is, “and the Word was a god”, and, that there is no Scripture where Jesus Christ is called “God”. Now, there is a clear contradiction here, as it is very clear in their own NWT, in Isaiah 9:6, that Jesus Christ is not only “God”, but, “Mighty God”. Some Jehovah’s Witnesses that I have spoken with, admit that Jesus Christ is “Mighty God”, but add, that He is not “Almighty God”. This means that they accept that there are two distinct Persons, Who are “God”, One “Almighty”, and the other, “Mighty”. This makes them guilty of Polytheism.
In John chapter 5, we read of a conversation between Jesus Christ and the Jews. In verse 17 Jesus says to them, after they question why He is working on the Sabbath Day, “But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working”. Jesus’ answer actually enraged the Jews, and they “were seeking all the more to kill Him” (verse 18). Why would this be? John explains, “because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God”. The Jews clearly understood what Jesus was saying here, He claimed that their God, was “His OWN (Greek, idiom) Father”, Who is “Personally His own”. Language that made Jesus Christ, “ison tōi theōI”, where the Greek “ison” means “equality in strength and rights”, which is “essentially equal with the Father”. Some argue that these words of the Jews are a misunderstanding of what Jesus was saying, and meant. If this were the case, Jesus does not in any way try to correct them, and rebuke them for “making Himself equal with God” the Father. Instead, a few verse later, Jesus makes a very strong self-Testimony on His own Deity and Equality with the Father. In verse 23 Jesus says:
“that all should Honour the Son just as they Honour the Father. He who does not Honour the Son does not Honour the Father who sent Him”
“Honour” is the Greek “timáō”, “honour, reverence, esteem, value, prize”. Also, “to exalt, glorify”. In Isaiah 42:8, it says, “I am Yahweh, that is My Name; I will not give My Glory to another or My Praise to idols”. The Hebrew word here “kâbôd” translated as “Glory”, is also used for, “honour, reverence, glory”.
It is very clear from what Jesus says in verse 23, if He is not given the SAME (kathōs, just as, even as, according as) “Honour” as the Father; then the Father Himself is not “Hourned”. These words would be the highest blasphemy, if, as some suppose, Jesus Christ is not Almighty God, and is no more than a created being! In fact, this verse alone is one of the strongest in the Bible, on the absolute Deity of Jesus Christ, by Himself, and His coequality with God the Father. There is not a single created being, who can ever say, “Honour me as you do Almighty God”, who would not be guilty of being deranged! If the Father is “Almighty”, then it is clear from Jesus’ own words here, that He is also Almighty God, as He says that He is to receive the same, “honour, reverence, esteem, value, prize”, as the Father. Only Someone Who is COEQUAL and COESSENTIAL with God, can ever use this language for Themselves.
In the Book of Revelation, chapter 5, we have another powerful Testimony to the absolute Deity of Jesus Christ, and His coequality with God the Father.
"And ALL of the Creation, which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, to Him Who sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be "ALL The Blessing, and ALL The Honour, and ALL The Glory, and ALL The Might, for ever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped." (so emphasized in the Greek)
Here it is very clear, that, “ALL The Blessing, and ALL The Honour, and ALL The Glory, and ALL The Might”, that is for “Him Who Sits on the Throne”, here being God the Father, is EQUALLY for “the Lamb”, Who is Jesus Christ. The Greek conjunction, “kai (and)”, is used to denote “equality and sameness”. Note in this passage, where we read, “to kratos”, which is also translated in the NWT, as “the might”, means, ALL the Might that there is. It can hardly mean, that only “some”, or the “majority” of Mighty belongs to “Him Who Sits on the Throne”, but must mean, “ALL-MIGHTY”. This, and the rest, ALSO is true of Jesus Christ. And, BOTH the Father and Jesus Christ are here WORSHIPPED. This passage is the best description as to what WORSHIP of God really is, “ALL The Blessing, and ALL The Honour, and ALL The Glory, and ALL The Might”. ALL The BLESSINGS in this world, ALL The HONOUR in this world, ALL The GLORY in this world, and ALL The MIGHT in this world, belongs to God the Father, and God the Son.
In Revelation 11:15 we read,
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall Reign for ever and ever”
Note the words, “He shall Reign”, is in the Greek, “basileusei”, which is in the singular number, no doubt referring to the Joint Reign of the Father and Jesus Christ (tou kuriou…tou Christou autou), Who are Two distinct Persons. There are some who misuse 1 Corinthians 15:28, to try to “prove”, that Jesus Christ is eternally “subordinate” to the Father. It is clear that this passage speaks of Jesus’ Mediatorial Kingdom, and not the eternal, which we can see from this passage in Revelation, is not one of “subordination”, but “coequality”. This is also clear from Revealtion 22:1, 3, where it says,
“And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb…the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him”
Here we have Two distinct Persons, “tou theou kai tou arniou”, literally, “the God and the Lamb”. Then we have, “tou thronou (the Throne)”, where “thronou”, is also in the singular number, as in 11:15. BOTH the Father and Jesus Christ Sit on the One Throne, as JOINT RULERS. In verse 3, we have the words, “His (autou, singular, masculine) servants”, “serve Him (autōi, singular, masculine), which includes BOTH the Father and Jesus Christ, Who are EQUALLY “Served” as Almighty God.
This is the Word of God, this is what the Word of God Teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is COEQUAL with God the Father, and is Himself ALMIGHTY GOD.
