2. The Deity and Greatness of Jesus

3. Jesus: Eternal God

4. The Challenges We Face Ressurgence of Gnosticism
Attraction of Conspiracy Theories
The Desire to Present a Sanitized, Politically Correct Jesus
Subtle influences of Hollywood
Selfish desires to be free of Jesus´ rule

5. We Need to See the Real Jesus
His Eternity
His Power
His Position

6. Jesus, the Uncreated Creator
The fundamental distinction (Romans 1:25)
If Jesus is a creature, He is distinct from God
If He is the Creator, He is distinct from us
The Bible presents Jesus as existing before the creation and as Creator of all that exists

7. Jesus, the Uncreated Creator
Clear claims of Scripture
John 1:1-3
Colossians 1:15-17
Implications are so strong that opponents have worked hard to strip these texts of their importance

8. Jesus, the Uncreated Creator
John 1:1 – Is Jesus God, or a god?
NWT and arguments based on the absence of the article (God vs. The God)
God is God, with or without the article
God is God without the article in 1:6,12,13,18

9. Jesus, the Uncreated Creator
Colossians 1:15 – Is Jesus the first creature, or first over all the creatures?
Ever since the Arians (4th century)
Firstborn could mean first to be made
Argument of Jehovah´s Witnesses
Or it could mean principal heir with authority over the creation (Exodus 4:22)
Which fits the context?

10. Jesus, the Uncreated Creator
Colossians 1:15 – Is Jesus the first creature, or first over all the creatures?
He is the image of the invisible God, the first one created, for [because] He created all things ??
Something missing? All other things?
Look at comment from the publishers of the NWT

11. Publishers of NWT comment about their rendering of Colossians 1:15-20
“But now trinitarians confront you with Paul´s words at Colossians 1:15-20 according to the King James Version. They argue that, if Jesus Christ was before all things and all things consist by him and were created by him and for him, then he must be the very same as the Almighty, Most High God, or be one person with God. But we must harmonize these verses with all other scriptures that Jesus Christ was God´s Son and a creation of His. So the Greek word here must be rendered in the sense of “all other.” Note, then, how the New World Translation blasts the trinitarian argument!” [Source: “Further Enrichment of Understanding,” Watchtower, October 15, 1950, page 396]

12. Jesus, the Uncreated Creator
Colossians 1:15 – Is Jesus the first creature, or first over all the creatures?
He is the image of the invisible God, the first one created, for [because] He created all things ??
He is the image of the invisible God, the principal heir over all creation, for [because] He created all things . . .

13. Jesus, the Uncreated Creator
Colossians 1: – Principal heir over all creation, because He made it all
This is the the argument of Hebrews 3:3-6
Exodus 4:22 – Israel as firstborn
Revelation 3:14
Origin, source, ruler – same word used of God in Revelation 21:6; 22:13
Ruler fits context – see Revelation 3:14,21

14. Jesus, the Uncreated Creator
Colossians 1: – Principal heir over all creation, because He made it all
This is the the argument of Hebrews 3:3-6
Exodus 4:22 – Israel as firstborn
Revelation 3:14

15. Jesus, the Uncreated Creator
Colossians 1: – Principal heir over all creation, because He made it all
This is the the argument of Hebrews 3:3-6
Exodus 4:22 – Israel as firstborn
Revelation 3:14
Psalm 89:27; cf. Psalm 2:6-8 – set as King, receives nations as inheritance – Hebrews 1:2

16. Jesus, the Eternal God
Jesus existed before Abraham came into existence
John 8:24; 56-59, especially 58 – before Abraham came into existence, I AM (two different verbs)
Psalm 90:2 – before the mountains came into existence, You Are (same grammatical structure and same two verbs in the LXX)
They did not want to stone Him because he thought he was 2,000 years old, but because His claim was to be God (John 8:59)

17. Jesus, the Eternal God Jesus existed before creation (John 17:5)
Think of how slowly the universe ages
Scientists suggest 500 million years for the earth and 5 billion for the sun
Trees, rocks, etc. last a long time
These things are like a change of clothes in comparison to Jesus´ eternity (Hebrews 1: – Psalm 102:25-27)
Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; John 1:1

18. Jesus was Active in History Before the Incarnation
1 Corinthians 10:4,9 – Paul says Christ was with the Israelites in the wilderness, and was tested by them
God was tested (Numbers 14:22; 21:5-6; Psalms 78:18-20; 95:6-11 (compare Hebrews 3:7-15 – living God – 12, Christ – 14, Holy Spirit – 7)

19. Jesus was Active in History Before the Incarnation
Isaiah saw His glory (John 12:37-41)
But whose glory did Isaiah see? (Isaiah 6:1- 5)

20. Jesus was Active in History Before the Incarnation
Matthew 23:37
Tendency to think only in terms of His earthly ministry
However, Matthew does not record any of Jesus´ prior visits to Jerusalem (John does – John 2:13; 5:1; 7:10)

21. Jesus was Active in History Before the Incarnation
Matthew 23:37
23:34 – Jesus would send prophets, etc.
23:37 – but prophets had already been sent, evidently by the same one who often wanted to save them
Compare to 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 – practically the same language to speak of what God had done in the OT
Language of refuge under the wings is common of God´s protection of His people (Psalm 36:7 and several others)

22. Jesus is . . . The uncreated Creator, distinct from all creatures
The eternal God, who has always existed
The same God who was active in the history of the Old Testament

23. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6)