Jesus Christ's equality with God is a foundational truth in scripture. He declared Himself as God, existing before creation, as seen in John 1:1-3, 1:14, and Revelation 3:14. His divine origin is affirmed in John 3:13 and 6:31, stating He came from heaven. Colossians 2:9 confirms all divinity dwells in Him bodily, even in human form, and Philippians 2:6 notes He did not consider equality with God robbery. As the image of the invisible God, He reflects the Father's glory and nature, being uncreated and eternal like the Father (Isaiah 57:14-15). Despite humbling Himself in mortality, He remained inherently divine, sharing the same glorious excellency with the Father.

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Jesus Is God

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus Christ's equality with God is a foundational truth that undergirds the entirety of biblical revelation. He declared Himself to be the God of the Old Testament, a claim duly reported in the scriptures. His own testimony in John 3:13 affirms that He came down from heaven and returned there, a unique journey no other human has undertaken, establishing His divine origin and authority. He repeatedly emphasized this point of origin, stating in John 6:31 and elsewhere that He came down from heaven, lending unmatched weight to His words compared to other religious teachers. Further, in John 1:1-3 and 1:14, it is revealed that the Word, who is Jesus Christ, was in the beginning, existed as God before creation, and became flesh to dwell among men. This same Being, uncreated and inhabiting eternity as stated in Isaiah 57:14-15, shares the eternal nature of the Father, with no beginning or end of days. Both Father and Son are of the God-kind, though the Son has always interfaced with mankind while the Father remains in the background for future revelation. In Colossians 1 and 2:9, Paul asserts Christ's preeminence over all creation, confirming that in Him dwells all the fullness of divinity bodily, even in human form. This aligns with John 1:3, stating that everything was made by Him, reinforcing that He preceded all created things and is uncreated, existing timelessly. Additionally, in Revelation 3:14, Jesus confirms His eternal existence with the Father, underscoring His divine status. Jesus also claimed direct and personal contact with Abraham, using the divine name given to Moses at the burning bush, boldly asserting His timeless existence and divinity, as seen in His confrontation with the Jews. Paul teaches in Philippians that Christ emptied Himself of immortality and divine privileges to become mortal, yet remained God, subject to death like us, but still inherently divine. This act of humbling Himself presupposes a prior state of greatness and equality with God.

Hebrews (Part Five): Who Was Jesus?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Jesus Christ stands as the unparalleled centerpiece of creation, second only to the Father in leadership and authority. His equality with God is evident in His divine nature and roles, as revealed through His qualifications. He is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person, reflecting the Father's character and purpose in every way. As stated, He is in no way inferior to the Father except in overall authority, ensuring the same glorious excellency resides in Him. Through Him, the Father's glory is sharply defined, revealing God's reality to mankind; without Him, the Father's existence and nature would remain unknown. He is the image of the invisible God, with all the fullness of deity dwelling in Him bodily, so that seeing the Son is akin to seeing the Father. His immutable and self-sufficient nature mirrors that of the Father, affirming His divine essence. Even during His time on earth as a unique God-Man, He never abandoned being God, carrying the burden of His divine characteristics through His human experience without a single misstep. These truths underscore His supreme qualifications as High Priest and Mediator, assuring that the church is in the most capable hands for salvation and eternal connection.

We Shall Be God

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The concept of Jesus Christ's equality with God is central to understanding the ultimate destiny of believers. In John 5:18, the Jews accused Jesus of making Himself equal with God because He declared Himself the Son of God, implying an inherent equality in kind. This is echoed in Philippians 2:6, where it is stated that Jesus did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. As joint heirs with Christ, believers are promised to be glorified together with Him, sharing in the inheritance and glory that the Father has bestowed upon the Son, as noted in Romans 8:17 and John 17:11, 22. This glorification means that believers will be qualitatively equal with God, sharing the same kind and quality of life as the Father and Son, though not quantitatively equal in rank or status. Scriptures such as II Corinthians 3:17-18 and I John 3:1-3 affirm that believers are being transformed into the same image as Christ, bearing the divine nature and ultimately becoming like Him, reflecting the glory of God. This transformation culminates in the resurrection, where believers will bear the image of the heavenly Man, as described in I Corinthians 15:48-49, achieving a state of blessedness and honor akin to Christ's own glory.

Living by Faith: Humility and God's Justice

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Humility, poverty of spirit, and acknowledging our total dependence on God are of the utmost importance. God responds to those who are humble.

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah

Sermonette by John Reiss

Looking forward to the promises that God wants to give to billions of His human creations inspires us to keep on striving through the trials and struggles.

In The Likeness of Men!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Jesus was subjected to the same experiences as the rest of us, having the appearance, experiences, the capability of receiving injury and suffering temptation.

John (Part Four)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The apostle John has provided at least eight separate forms of witness, establishing the veracity of Jesus Christ's identity as God in the flesh.

The Trinity and the Holy Spirit (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The true understanding of Elohim dismantles the entire trinity argument. God is reproducing Himself; we are being prepared to become a part of Elohim.

The Trinity and the Holy Spirit (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The Father and the Son are two separate personalities, with the Father having pre-eminence. The Bible contains no evidence of a third person in the God family.

John (Part Three)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Even many extra-biblical sources such as Tacitus, Seconius, Justin Martyr, Pliny, and Josephus corroborate and validate the biblical accounts of Jesus.

John (Part Two)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

John emphasizes the reality of Jesus as the Logos (a word revealing hidden thought), the manifestation of God in the flesh, emphasizing His preexistence and divinity.

Going On to Perfection

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Even though everything we need in this quest has been given to us, our spiritual growth depends on believing in the promises of receiving the divine nature.