1 PETER 3:15 BUT IN YOUR HEART SET APART CHRIST AS LORD. ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE THE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE. Isaiah 43:10-13 10) "You are My witness," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no god formed, And there will be none after Me. 11) I, even I, am the Lord; And there is no Savior besides Me. 12) "It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there is no strange god among you; So you are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "And I am God. 13) "Even from eternity I am He; And there is none that can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?" BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Verse 10: God wants us to KNOW wants us to BELIEVE wants us to UNDERSTAND BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE So let's analyze the significant of this these verses. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE (1.) I am He.... (2.) Before Me there was no god formed, and there will be none after Me.... (3.) There is NO Savior besides Me.... (4.) And there was no strange god among you;.... (5.) I am God. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Point # 1. "I am He" *** Who is the He? "I am He" Is the same "I am He" spoken of in John 8:24-27 24) "I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins." (Jesus speaking) 27) "They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father." (1.) I am He.... (2.) Before Me there was no god formed, and there will be none after Me.... (3.) There is NO Savior besides Me.... (4.) And there was no strange god among you;.... (5.) I am God. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Point # 2. "Before Me there was no god formed, And there will be none after Me." Now let's consider this declaration. If there was another Real Legitimate God out there somewhere when God made these statements in the book of Isaiah appox 700 years before Christ, would God have been telling the Truth? Obviously not! How can anything be made any clearer. ("Before Me no god formed... none after Me") BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Point # 3. "there is no savior besides Me. " Matthew 1:21 " And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (The name is given in the tenth verse, which is JESUS CHRIST the Nazarene.) Believe it or not, there are some that would like to twist these verses to mean that Jesus is just a sub-agent of God. They ignore the words "No one else". BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Point # 4. And there was no strange god among you; What is a strange god? The obvious answer is a false god! God's attitude toward false gods is seen in EXODUS 20:20: "He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be utterly destroyed." There have always been gods but they are not "real" gods by nature. They are simply fashioned out of wood and stone and man's imagination. They cannot create a world, or anything else. NOT REAL BY NATURE: Galatians 4:8 "However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods." 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 4 ¶ Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. Since the same statement is made about both Father and Son "whom are all things, and we exist " they have to be the same Lord God. NOTE: The Lord Jesus Christ is not a "so called god". There are only two types; "so called" or "real by nature." True God or false God. You see, there can only be one legitimate all powerful God. There is only One Lord God that can create a universe, an eyeball, and a rainbow. Yes, there may be other "so called" gods and lords, but by their nature they are wood, stone or the vain imaginations of men. None of them can raise themselves from the dead or forgive sins. (1.) I am He.... (2.) Before Me there was no god formed, and there will be none after Me.... (3.) There is NO Savior besides Me.... (4.) And there was no strange god among you;.... (5.) I am God. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Point # 5. "I am God." God wants us to know who He is, and that there is no other. Exodus 20:5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, G o d i s : (LIGHT, 1 John 1:5) (SPIRIT, John 4:24) (Love, 1 John 4:8) (HOLY, Revelation 4:8) (Consuming Fire, Hebrews 12:29) ALL KNOWING,.....ALL POWERFUL,....EVERYWHERE PRESENT,...CREATOR, UNCHANGEABLE,...RIGHTEOUS,...JUST,...ETERNAL,...INFINITE Who believed Jesus was God? Thomas believed Jesus was God John 20:28 Luke believed Jesus was God Acts 20:28 Paul believed Jesus was God Colossians 2:9 Peter believed Jesus was God 2 Peter 1:1 John believed Jesus was God John 1:1 and 14 Isaiah prophesied Jesus was God Isaiah 9:6 GOD THE FATHER, calls Jesus God Hebrews 1:8 The Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament God said: Hebrews 1:6 "and let all the angels of God worship Him." Yet Jesus said: Luke 4:8 "You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." You see Jesus is God. That's why He said: John 17:5 "And now, glorify thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. Note: Isaiah 42:8 "I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, QUESTIONS: 1 PETER 3:15 BUT IN YOUR HEART SET APART CHRIST AS LORD. ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE THE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Question #1 A question may arise concerning the phrase: "YOU ARE GODS" found in John 10:34. 30 "I and the Father are one." 31 The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" 33 The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'? Jesus made it very clear, "I and the Father are one." The Jews knew exactly what Jesus meant. That's why they go on to say: "you being a man make yourself out to be God." Jesus decided to prevent them from stoning him by confusing their minds, by quoting Psalms 82:6 which stopped them in their tracks. You see, they had to figure out what that verse meant. It's talking about the Judges of Israel. Psalms 82:7 "Nevertheless you will die like men, and fall like any one of the princes." The verse says: "you will die like men." The verse is not talking about (REAL BY NATURE) Gods. But men who were judges that had a great deal of power over peoples lives. Human judges had in there power life or death which made them like Gods BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Question #2 ISAIAH 46:9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, "NO ONE LIKE ME " Genesis 1:26-27 26) Then God said, "let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; 27) And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; Whom does the us refer to? Why is the expression," our likeness" used? Remember Isa 46:9, "there is No One Like Me"!!! (GOD) It's interesting to see what Jesus said: John 14:9 "He who has seen Me has seen the Father;" John 10:30 "I and the Father are one." ISAIAH 46:9 I am God, and there is no one like Me, Hebrews 1:3 "And He is the exact representation of His nature," (The He is Jesus) (The His is the Father) Titus 2:13 Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; You see Jesus is God. That's why God said: Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son He says, "Thy Throne, O God is forever and ever, BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Question #3 John 1:18 "No man has seen God" That is in his fullness, and radiance of, the Father, The Son, and Holy Spirit, all together at the same time. 1 Timothy 6:16 "who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable Light". (REFERS TO GOD) Within the nature of the one God there are three persons, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and they are the one God. By their Nature, where One goes They all go. You cannot have One without the other. They have chosen to take different roles, positions and responsibilities in relationship to their creation and redemption. None of which makes One better then the Other. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Question #4 John 14:28 "the Father is greater than I". The Father's position and role is different, than that of the Son, so we see no problem. There would be a problem if the verse read: "The Father is better than I." BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Question #5 Revelation 3:14 "the Beginning of the creation of God," (refers to Jesus) NOTE: The Greek word for (Beginning) used here means Origin, or Source. The same as in Revelation 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." There is no starting point for the beginning. Jesus was the originator of all creation, 1 Colossians 1:16. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Question #6 Philippians 2:5-7 5.)"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6.) Who, although He existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7.) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men." POINT one: "form of God" Means equality with God, virtual equal with God. Point two: "did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped." (The reason is because Jesus already had equality with God.) He did not like Adam and Satin have to try to be like God, since He was God. Point three: "emptied Himself." He chose to put himself under his own limitations, for a particular reason that was in harmony with the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Point four: God became a man to provide Himself as the sacrifice for mans sins against Him. God by his nature is Love this was a supreme demonstration of Love, for His Creation.. This is where some make their mistake in interpreting the Bible. They forget some verses speak of Jesus as God and some Jesus as man. If we do not make this important distinction, we will come up with a Jesus quite different than the true picture of Jesus as the Man-God. That is taught in the Bible. BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Question #7 Mark 1:10-11 10.) And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11.) and a voice came out of the heavens: "Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased." We see in this verse, all three persons separate, how can the three persons be the same God? Can God be in two different places at the same time? The answer is yes! If you say, "No," you are limiting God who is by Nature Omnipotent. If you say, "He won't," you make yourself out to be Omniscience, and that alone is who God is. Who are we to say what God will do, or how God will do it. Romans 11:33-34 33.) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34.) for who has known the mind of the Lord or who became His counselor? GOD raised Jesus from the dead. Romans 8:11 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. Jesus raised himself from the dead. John 2:19-21 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews therefore said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Some would like to say, this verse really says, the "word was a God." One of the problems with this view is, Isa 43:10-13 Remember, Jehovah is talking and we had better listen. Isaiah 43:10-13 10) "You are My witness," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no god formed, And there will be none after Me. 11) I, even I, am the Lord; And there is no Savior besides Me. 12) "It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there is no strange god among you; So you are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "And I am God. 13) "Even from eternity I am He; And there is none that can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?" How can anything be made any clearer. ("Before Me no god formed... none after Me") John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. To say the Word was "a God", is in violation not only of Isa 43:10-13, but a number of other scriptures. For example: Jehovah is talking, Isaiah 45:5 ¶ I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: If Jesus were a God other than Jehovah, the question would arise when did He become a God? If He were a God when Jehovah made these decrees, Jehovah would not have been telling the truth. Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. So we can easily see John 1:1 has to be "the word was God" rather than "the word was a God". ALSO IN John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. You see John 1:1-14 Teaches, that the word was the only God "Jesus". The Creator...God Gen 1:1 The Creator...The Father 1 Corth 8:6 The Creator...The Son John 1:3 The Creator...The Holy Spirit Ps 104:30 One Creator...Mal 2:10 They have chosen to reveal Themselves to us as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ONE MAN..ONE GOD BODY...FATHER SOUL...SON SPIRIT....HOLY SPIRIT THREE IN ONE Genesis 1:27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; (GOD IS HOLY - ISAIAH 6:3) (GOD IS SPIRIT - JOHN 4:24) GOD IS THE HOLY SPIRIT! BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE BIBLE Powerful points in the book of Revelation Point 1. Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. The Alpha and the Omega, is the same Alpha and Omega, that is in Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Who is to come). Point 2. Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. The Alpha and the Omega, is the First and the Last. Note: Within the nature of God, there cannot be two Alpha and Omega's, two Firsts and two Lasts. Point 3. Revelation 1:17-18 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. The First and Last became dead. Point 4. Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. The First and the Last is the only God. The First and Last became dead. Point 5. Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. The Alpha and the Omega is to come. JESUS Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:20 ¶ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The one who testifies these things is the Alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, the Almighty, the Lord Jesus, Who is to come. Col 2:9 For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form Isa 44:8 'Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'"