Jesus Christ as LORD

~ The Title “LORD” ~

Jesus said, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). 

Many English Bible translations use both the name “LORD” and “Lord” throughout the Old Testament.  This is a deliberate and important distinction.  Before beginning a series of posts on various titles of The Messiah—Jesus Christ as Jehovah, it is worth visiting this distinction.  There has been a conscious effort to simplify this post rather than getting into the many complexities and nuances involved. 

“LORD”  ~  With only one exception, LORD in all upper case letters capitals refers to Jehovah (Adonai).  GOD in all upper case letters refers to Jehovah (Adonay, Yahweh).   “Jehovah” is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews.  The most important thing to realize is that whether in Aramaic, Hebrew, or Greek, the word expresses a great sense of honor, dignity, and majesty. 

An excellent example is in the fifteenth chapter of Genesis.  “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’  But Abram said, ‘Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’  Then Abram said, ‘Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!’  And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.’  Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’  And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’  And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.  Then He said to him, ‘I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.’  And he said, ‘Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?’” (Genesis 15:1-8). 

“Lord”  ~  Lord is basically a Saxon word signifying a ruler or a governor.  The Lord should be our ruler and govern our affairs. 

Comments  ~  (1)  LORD is the most sacred Hebrew name for God, as their covenant God, ‎Yah‎, ‎Yahweh‎.  The more common designation of Deity, ‎Adhonay‎ and ‎Adhon‎, are terms which were adopted to avoid pronouncing the most holy designation. 

(2)  There are clearly differences in how translators deal with the names of God.  For example, when two of the words that are usually translated “Lord” (both referring to God) occur together, the King James Version translates them as “Lord God,” and the American Standard Revised Version as “Lord Yahweh.”

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Jesus Christ as God

~ Testimonies To The Deity of Jesus Christ  ~

The Old Testament  ~  The Scriptures contain literally hundreds of prophecies regarding The Messiah—Jesus Christ.  For example, see the Abundant Life Now “Messiah” posts each Saturday since June 25, 2011. 

The New Testament  ~  The record continues to be clear that Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh.  For example, see the subsequent sub-headings in this post—what His contemporaries, His disciples, Doubting Thomas, the Apostle Peter, and even the Devil said about The Messiah.  Additionally, Jesus Christ claimed to be God.

Jesus Christ, Himself  ~  Jesus said, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30).  “Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father?”  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?  The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves’” (John 14:9-11). 

His Contemporaries  ~  Consider those who knew Jesus Christ while He was on earth.  “Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!  “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  Hosanna in the highest!’  And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’  So the multitudes said, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee’” (Matthew 21:9-11). 

His Disciples  ~  “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him” (Matthew 28:16-17a). 

Doubting Thomas  ~  “Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’  So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’ …  And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:24-25, 28). 

The Apostle Peter  ~  “Jesus Christ said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’  Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:15-16). 

The Devil  ~  “Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him …  Then Jesus said to him,  ‘Away with you, Satan!  For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”’  Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matthew 4:5-6a, 10-11). 

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 134

~ Messiah Would Be Heir To David’s Throne, 3 ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7).

The Messiah 

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham … and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah … So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:1, 6, 17-18).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

3 + 1 = 4

~ The Divine Formula ~

“Three” Nails  ~  “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left” (Luke 23:33).  “Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’  So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’  And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’  Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing’” (John 20:24-27). 

“One” Cross  ~  “Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.  And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying,  ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself!  If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’  Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save.  If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.  He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, “I am the Son of God.”’  Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing” (Matthew 27:38-44). 

“Four” Given  ~  “To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:6-7).  “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14).

   

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW