Is Jesus really God?

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Is Jesus really God?
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Once again, in The Da Vinci Code
Jesus Christ was a historical figure of
staggering influence, perhaps the most enigmatic
and inspirational leader the world has ever seen.
As the prophesied Messiah, Jesus toppled kings,
inspired millions, and founded new philosophies.
As a descendant of the lines of King Solomon and
King David, Jesus possessed a rightful claim to
the throne of the King of the Jews. Page 231
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So far, so good.
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Unfortunately, also in The Da Vinci Code
Teabing said, Stay with me. During this fusion
of religions, Constantine needed to strengthen
the new Christian tradition, and held a famous
ecumenical gathering known as the Council of
Nicea. Sophie had heard of it only insofar as
its being the birthplace of the Nicene Creed. At
this gathering, Teabing said, many aspects of
Christianity were debated and voted upon - the
date of Easter, the role of the bishops, the
administration of the sacraments, and, of course,
the divinity of Jesus.
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Unfortunately, also in The Da Vinci Code
I dont follow. His divinity? My dear,
Teabing declared, until that moment in history,
Jesus was viewed by his followers as a mortal
prophet a great and powerful man, but a man
nonetheless. A mortal. Not the Son of
God? Right, Teabing said. Jesus
establishment as the Son of God was officially
proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicea.
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Unfortunately, also in The Da Vinci Code
Hold on. Youre saying Jesus divinity was the
result of a vote? A relatively close vote at
that, Teabing added. Nonetheless, establishing
Christs divinity was critical to the further
unification of the Roman empire and to the new
Vatican power base. By officially endorsing
Jesus as the Son of God, Constantine turned Jesus
into a deity who existed beyond the scope of the
human world, an entity whose power was
unchangeable.
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Unfortunately, also in The Da Vinci Code
This not only precluded further pagan challenges
to Christianity, but now the followers of Christ
were able to redeem themselves only via the
established sacred channel - the Roman Catholic
Church. Sophie glanced at Langdom, and he gave
her a soft nod of concurrence. It was all about
power, Teabing continued. Christ as Messiah
was critical to the functioning of Church and
state.
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Unfortunately, also in The Da Vinci Code
Many scholars claim that the early Church
literally stole Jesus from His original
followers, hijacking His human message, shrouding
it in an impenetrable cloak of divinity, and
using it to expand their own power. Ive written
several books on the topic. And I assume devout
Christians send you hate mail on a daily
basis? Why would they? Teabing countered.
The vast majority of educated Christians know
the history of their faith. Jesus was indeed a
great and powerful man.
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Unfortunately, also in The Da Vinci Code
Constantines underhanded political maneuvers
dont diminish the majesty of Christs life.
Nobody is saying Christ was a fraud, or denying
that He walked the earth and inspired millions to
better lives. All we are saying is that
Constantine took advantage of Christs
substantial influence and importance. And in
doing so, he shaped the face of Christianity as
we know it today. (Pages 233 234)
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Stand back!
(There might a lightning strike!)
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Okay lets deal with the obvious fallacies of
Dan Browns imagination
1. Jesus was viewed as being God by ALL
Christian teachers and theologians throughout the
300 years prior to Constantine!
Ignatius of Antioch (50-117 A.D.) There is one
Physician who is possessed both of flesh and
spirit both made and not made God existing in
flesh true life in death both of Mary and of
God first possible, and then impossible, even
Jesus Christ our Lord he will be within us as
our God - as he actually is For our God, Jesus
Christ, was, according to the appointment of God,
conceived in the womb of Mary, of the seed of
David, but by the Holy Ghost. Letter to the
Ephesians
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Okay lets deal with the obvious fallacies of
Dan Browns imagination
1. Jesus was viewed as being God by ALL
Christian teachers and theologians throughout the
300 years prior to Constantine!
Justin Martyr (100-165 A.D.) For if you had
understood was written by the prophets, you would
not have denied that He (Jesus) was God, Son of
the only begotten, unutterable God. Dialogue
with Trypho Jesus Christ is the only proper Son
who has been begotten by God, being His
Word. First Apology
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Okay lets deal with the obvious fallacies of
Dan Browns imagination
1. Jesus was viewed as being God by ALL
Christian teachers and theologians throughout the
300 years prior to Constantine!
Irenaeus (130-200 A.D.) Now the Scriptures
would not have testified these things of Him, if,
like others, He had been a mere man He is the
holy Lord, the Wonderful, the Counselor, the
Beautiful in appearance, and the Mighty God,
coming on the clouds as the Judge of all men -
all these things did the Scriptures prophesy of
Him. Against Heresies
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Okay lets deal with the obvious fallacies of
Dan Browns imagination
1. Jesus was viewed as being God by ALL
Christian teachers and theologians throughout the
300 years prior to Constantine!
Clement of Alexandria (150-215 A.D.) Despised
as to appearance but in reality adored, Jesus is
the expiator, the Savior, the soother, the divine
Word, he that is quite evidently true God, he
that is put on the a level with the Lord of the
universe because he was his Son. Exhortation to
the Greeks
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Okay lets deal with the obvious fallacies of
Dan Browns imagination
1. Jesus was viewed as being God by ALL
Christian teachers and theologians throughout the
300 years prior to Constantine!
Tertullian (160-225 A.D.) God alone is
without sin. The only man who is without sin is
Christ for Christ is also God. The Soul Origen
(185-254 A.D.) Although the Son was God, he
took flesh and having been made man, he remained
what he was God. The Fundamental Doctrines
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Okay lets deal with the obvious fallacies of
Dan Browns imagination
2. The Council of Nicea did NOT vote on Jesus
divinity. His divinity was already accepted
teaching by all Christians!
The Council of Nicea debated on the relationship
between the Father and the Son - how both could
be God. In other words, what did it mean to say
that the Father is God and, at the same time,
that Jesus is God?
Their conclusion? Jesus is God of God, Light of
Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made
being of one substance with the Father by whom
all things were made.
And the relatively close vote?
300 to 2!
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Whats really at stake here?
Well whether youre talking about Mary
Magdalene, the Gospel of Philip, Gnosticism, the
Priory of Sion, the Holy Grail or the Knights
Templar -
The REAL issue always comes back to this
Who is Jesus?
The Da Vinci Code is just the latest in a string
of challenges as to the nature and work of Jesus
Christ!
Indeed, all false teaching ultimately is an
attack on Jesus!
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Who is Jesus?
Lets have the Nicene Creed be our guide!
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The Second Article (Paragraph) of the Nicene Creed
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten
Son of God, begotten of his Father before all
worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of
very God, begotten, not made, being of one
substance with the Father, by whom all things
were made who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven and was incarnate by the
Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man
and was crucified also for us under Pontius
Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the
third day he rose again according to the
Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at
the right hand of the Father. And he will come
again with glory to judge both the living and the
dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
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Who is Jesus?
He is begotten of the Father before all worlds
(or from eternity). That means that Jesus is
eternally comes from the Father, sent to be our
Savior. He was neither created nor made. He is
eternal - just like God the Father is.
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Who is Jesus?
This begotten aspect of Jesus means that it is
God begetting God and the true (very) God issuing
forth the true God. It is Light of the World
shining forth the Light of the World. Were
talking about God here when we talk about Jesus.
He is of one substance essence as the Father.
When you see Jesus, you see God.
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Who is Jesus?
As Jesus Himself said I and the Father are
one. (John 1030) Anyone who has seen me, has
seen the Father dont you believe that I am in
the Father, and that the Father is in me?
(John 149-10)
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Who is Jesus?
Everything in all creation indeed, the entire
universe was created by Jesus and for Jesus! As
Paul writes For in him (Jesus) all things were
created things in heaven and on earth, visible
and invisible, whether thrones or powers or
rulers or authorities all things were created by
him and for him. He is before all things, and in
him all things hold together. Colossians 116-17
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Who is Jesus?
He came down to save us He entered time
spaceHe was born of the virgin Mary His birth
was miraculous Imagine God became a human
being!
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Who is Jesus?
To save us He had to endure the false accusations
of humankind He had to endure the mockery of an
illegal trial with trumped up charges.
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Who is Jesus?
He suffered under Pontius Pilate He was crucified
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Who is Jesus?
He died He was buried
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Who is Jesus?
According to Scripture, He rose from the dead He
returned to heaven
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Who is Jesus?
And Hes coming again with all the glory that is
His as the Son of God to judge all people and to
bring to fruition His eternal Kingdom!
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Who is Jesus?
The Jesus of the Nicene Creed is the Jesus of the
Bible, the Jesus as He always has been, and thus
the Jesus of reality!
The Da Vinci Code notwithstanding!
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One thing in The Da Vinci Code that is true
The vast majority of educated Christians DO know
the history of their faith.
And what do all these educated, faithful,
historical, relevant and Biblically-based
Christians say?
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Jesus is God!
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Four weeks on The Da Vince Code is enough, dont
you think?
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40 million hardcover copies sold 77 million of
box office sales the first weekend the movie is
out all this hype about Dan Browns book and Ron
Howards movie
Were done, right?
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Yeah were done, all right.
But not before one, final comment from the person
who, in so many ways, is at the center of The Da
Vinci Code
Mary Magdalene
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And what does Mary say?
I have seen the Lord! (John 2018)
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May you, like Mary Magdalene, always see the Lord!
The Lord Jesus who is both your God and Savior!
(No matter what The Da Vinci Code says!)
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Amen