In a previous post https://islamunmasked.com/2017/04/26/jesus-christ-the-god-who-is-the-all-in-all-a-response-to-iglesia-ni-cristo/, I responded to Iglesia Ni Cristo apologist Joe Ventilacion’s use of the New Living Translation’s (NLT) rendering of 1 Corinthians 15:28 in his debate with Dr. James R. White to disprove Jesus’ essential coequality with the Father. After having reviewed the debate again I realized that I made a mistake, since it wasn’t the NLT that Ventilacion used but the Good News Translation (GNT) of the Holy Bible. Here is how the GNT renders the passage in question:

“For the scripture says, ‘God put all things under his feet.’ It is clear, of course, that the words ‘all things’ do not include God himself, who puts all things under Christ. But when all things have been placed under Christ’s rule, then he himself, the Son, will place himself under God, who placed all things under him; and God will rule completely over all.” 1 Corinthians 15:27-28

Therefore, in order to rectify my error I am now going to use this particular version to show how it too affirms the eternal nature and perfect Deity of Christ.

According to the GNT, Jesus Christ is the eternally reigning God who possesses an indestructible kingdom, being the sovereign Lord whom every creature in existence must worship forever and ever:

“There will be no way for them to escape from this time of trouble. The land of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali was once disgraced, but the future will bring honor to this region, from the Mediterranean eastward to the land on the other side of the Jordan, and even to Galilee itself, where the foreigners live. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them… A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, ‘Wonderful Counselor,’ ‘Mighty God,’ ‘Eternal Father,’ ‘Prince of Peace.’ His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David’s successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The Lord Almighty is determined to do all this.” Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7

“During this vision in the night, I saw what looked like a human being. He was approaching me, surrounded by clouds, and he went to the one who had been living forever and was presented to him. He was given authority, honor, and royal power, so that the people of all nations, races, and languages would serve him. His authority would last FOREVER, and his kingdom would NEVER END.” Daniel 7:13-14

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, ‘Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!’ Mary was deeply troubled by the angel’s message, and she wondered what his words meant. The angel said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob FOREVER; his kingdom WILL NEVER END!’” Luke 1:26-33

“But when God was about to send his first-born Son into the world, he said, ‘All of God’s angels MUST WORSHIP HIM.’ But about the angels God said, “God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.’ About the Son, however, God said: ‘Your kingdom, O God, will last FOREVER AND EVER! You rule over your people with justice. You love what is right and hate what is wrong. That is why God, your God, has chosen you and has given you the joy of an honor far greater than he gave to your companions.’” Hebrews 1:6-9

“From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ— To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ (tou Theou hemon kai Soteros ‘Iesou Christou) have been given a faith as precious as ours… In this way you will be given the full right to enter the ETERNAL Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:1, 11

“As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before THE LAMB. Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. They sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals. For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race. You have made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they shall rule on earth.’ Again I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders, and sang in a loud voice: ‘THE LAMB who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise!’ And I heard EVERY CREATURE in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea—ALL LIVING BEINGS IN THE UNIVERSE—and they were singing: ‘To him who sits on the throne AND TO THE LAMB, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!’ The four living creatures answered, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:8-14

“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The power to rule over the world belongs now to our Lord and his Messiah, and he will rule FOREVER AND EVER!’” Revelation 11:15

Christ is also the Agent whom the Father employed to create and sustain the whole entire creation:

“In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was THE SOURCE OF LIFE, and this life brought light to people… This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people. The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him… The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father’s only Son… No one has ever seen God. The only Son, WHO IS THE SAME AS GOD and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” John 1:1-4, 10, 14

“Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to ALL CREATED THINGS. For THROUGH HIM God CREATED EVERYTHING in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and FOR HIM. Christ existed BEFORE ALL THINGS, and in union with him all things have their proper place. He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body’s life. He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things.” Colossians 1:15-18

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. He reflects the brightness of God’s glory and is the exact likeness of God’s own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.” Hebrews 1:1-3

Christ is even identified as the Yahweh God of Psalm 102:25-27,

“About the Son… He also said, “You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth, and with YOUR OWN HANDS you made the heavens. They will disappear, but you will remain; they will all wear out like clothes. You will fold them up like a coat, and they will be changed like clothes. But you are always the same, and your life never ends.” Hebrews 1:8a, 10-12

A passage that describes the true God as the unchanging Creator and Sustainer of all things:

“long ago you created the earth, and with your own hands you made the heavens. They will disappear, but you will remain; they will all wear out like clothes. You will discard them like clothes, and they will vanish. But you are always the same, and your life never ends.”

This means that according to the inspired NT witness, Jesus Christ is Yahweh God Almighty in the flesh (even though he is not the Father or the Holy Spirit).

This explains why Jesus identifies himself as the same I AM,

“Jesus answered, ‘You belong to this world here below, but I come from above. You are from this world, but I am not from this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. And you will die in your sins if you do not believe that ‘I Am Who I Am”.’… So he said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, you will know that ‘I Am Who I Am’; then you will know that I do nothing on my own authority, but I say only what the Father has instructed me to say… Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see the time of my coming; he saw it and was glad.’ They said to him, ‘You are not even fifty years old—and you have seen Abraham?’ ‘I am telling you the truth,’ Jesus replied. ‘Before Abraham was born, “I Am”.’” John 8:23-24, 28, 56-58

“I tell you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that ‘I Am Who I Am.’” John 13:19

Who appeared to Moses,

“But Moses replied, ‘When I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors sent me to you,” they will ask me, “What is his name?” So what can I tell them?’ God said, ‘I am who I am. You must tell them: “The one who is called I Am has sent me to you.” Tell the Israelites that I, the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, have sent you to them. This is my name forever; this is what all future generations are to call me.’” Exodus 3:13-15

And why we find Jesus’ disciples worshiping him as their Lord and their God,

“One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (called the Twin), was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ A week later the disciples were together again indoors, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands; then reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting, and believe!’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God (ho Kyrios mou kai ho Theos mou)!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me!’” John 20:24-29

In fact as their great God and Savior who offered up his incarnate life to redeem and purify a people for his glory,

“as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (tou megalou Theou kai Soteros hemon ‘Iesou Christou) will appear. He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.” Titus 2:13-14

Praising him as the One that had always been God in nature who then freely chose to humble himself to become a slave in order to die an accursed death for us:

“The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death— his death on the cross. For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. And so, in honor of the name of Jesus ALL BEINGS in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

So much for Ventilacion’s appeal to the GNT Bible.

 

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