Do you believe contradictions do not exist? If so, how can Jesus be FULLY God and FULLY man? That seems like a contradiction...
DOCTRINE #37: JESUS
Jesus is fully man and fully God. Jesus was able to choose to do evil while on earth, however, He always and completely chose to allow the Holy Spirit to direct His actions. Since His resurrection Jesus is unable to act apart from His Nature. God the Father is the Mind/Soul, never changes and is predictable. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit, untamed and is NEVER predictable. Jesus is God in the Flesh and is able to grow. All three are God because They are always completely Right and always completely Just. All three have a unique embodiment of God.
Question: Do you believe Jesus had a choice between doing good and evil while He was on the earth?
Next Doctrine: Doctrine #38
Table of Contents
If you need it, here is the support from the Word of God...
SCRIPTURE
"14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
15 Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhorrest shall be forsaken." (Isaiah 7:14-16)
(The most famous prophecy concerning Jesus stated that Jesus had to know (learn) to choose the good and refuse the evil. Jesus chose to create, even when He had the option to destroy, just like we have the same two options. If you believe everything is determined than you are saying that Jesus is the only one who had choice. How is that Just?)
"41 And he was parted from them about a stone's cast; and he kneeled down and prayed,
42 saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground." (Luke 22:41-44)
(Jesus showed His Will was different than God's, but He chose to do God's Will. Jesus' Will was for the cup to be removed short term, but His long term goal was for God's Will to be done through Him. Jesus chose growth over comfort, even if it meant that He was going to suffer.)
"34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)
(This showed things could happen that Jesus wasn't aware of and not something He wanted.)
"28 Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him." (John 8:28-29)
(Jesus didn't ever do His Will. Jesus said he did NOTHING of Himself. He always completely let God direct His actions. Jesus was taught by God so that means there were things that He didn't know before God taught Him! God directed Jesus in gaining understanding, in order that He would grow in wisdom.)
"1 If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,
2 make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
3 doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;
4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;
8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;
10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:1-11)
(Paul said it was our choice to do good just like it was Jesus' choice to humble Himself and let God direct His actions. The Mind of Christ is a choice that all can receive if they so choose. It is not something that is given to some and not given to others because THEY are chosen. Jesus' actions proved His choice. He was obedient even unto death on a cross.)
"6 For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6)
(God the Father stated that He does not change.)
"8 The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)
(If you are born of the Spirit you would have the same HOW/WHY as the Holy Spirit. People who are born of the Holy Spirit are unpredictable. Animals are predictable, they operate on strict patterns! Is the Holy Spirit more or less predictable than humans?)
"20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; thither was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels." (Ezekiel 1:20)
(In Ezekiel's vision, the Holy Spirit was unpredictable...no pattern.)
"1 And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)
(Notice, the elements that were mentioned regarding the Spirit are wild: mighty wind and fire. The word "suddenly" even implied that this event was UNPREDICTABLE. This was how the people who witnessed this responded...)
"12 And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, saying, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:
18 Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." (Acts 2:12-18)
(They thought these believers were drunk! If you have ever been around drunk people, they do have a tendency to be a little wild.)
"28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour our my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" (Joel 2:28)
(God said that He will pour forth His Spirit upon ALL flesh.)
"10 But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
(The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. Like the spirit in a man, the Spirit in God knows the deep things. The Spirit of God dwelling within us can reveal mysteries to us. Are mysteries being revealed to you by gaining understanding?)
"12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
16 A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me." (John 16:12-16)
(The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit speaks what God says. God the Father, God the Spirit and God the Son were all mentioned in this verse separately, yet they all functioned perfectly together. Here's another...)
"16 And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;
17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)
(In one sentence, all three were mentioned. Remember what makes it possible to please God? You must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek after Him. Jesus had faith! Now we see the Holy Spirit descended as a dove...once again, not very predictable.)
"13 But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,
15 having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace;
16 and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh:
18 for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father." (Ephesians 2:13-18)
(The Triune God was mentioned in one short verse at the end of the text. It doesn't matter if we are distant or near to God, we still have access to Him through His Spirit. Jesus' death brought peace, this peace brought us the Spirit, the Spirit brought us to the Father.)
"7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.
8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more;
11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged." (John 16:7-11)
(Another Trinity verse. Jesus went away to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could come to all of us. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.)
God the Father, Son, and Spirit all have the Nature of Right and Just. While Jesus was alive He had a choice between good and evil, and always chose Good because He chose to have all of His actions and decisions be directed by God. We also have learned about righteousness and judgment. We know what to do, yet still have the free will to choose those things that are evil. Is evil the same as sin?
