I continue from where I previously left off: JESUS CHRIST: THE ETERNALLY PRAISED GOD.

SUPPORTING TEXTS

The blessed Apostle furnishes additional evidence for taking Romans 9:5 as another explicit testimony to the Deity of Christ.

For instance, in the very next chapter Paul describes Jesus as the YHVH whom a person must confess in order to be saved:

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord OVER ALL is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Romans 10:9-13

The inspired Apostle has applied the following OT text to Christ, which exhorts the Israelites to call upon the name of YHVH in order to be saved:

“And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.” Joel 2:32

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call.” American Standard Version (ASV)

In other words, Jesus is that very YHVH God whose name all individuals must confess and acknowledge for salvation!

In fact, the first Christians who were predominantly Jewish came to be known for this devotional practice of calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus, an act of worship which led Paul to initially persecute the Church since he deemed it to be blasphemous:  

“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2

“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ So the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.’ Then Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to YOUR saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on YOUR name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear MY name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for MY name’s sake.’ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, ‘Is this not he who destroyed those who called on THIS name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?’” Acts 9:10-21

That Jews in Jerusalem would call on the name of the risen Christ is something remarkable, in fact astonishing, since this meant that monotheistic Jews started worshiping Jesus as YHVH God Almighty in the flesh (even though they didn’t believe he is either the Father or the Holy Spirit)!  

One will not find a single OT text where God permitted his people to call upon the name of any other heavenly being besides YHVH their God:

“for you shall worship no other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

“The LORD had made a covenant with them and commanded them, ‘You shall not worship other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to them, but you shall worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm; you shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice. The statutes and the ordinances and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to observe. You shall not worship other gods; you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not worship other gods, but you shall worship the LORD your God; he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.’” 2 Kings 17:35-39 NRSVUE

The repeated worship pattern throughout the OT is that of the Israelite practice of invoking YHVH’s name alone:

“And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.” Genesis 12:8

“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.” Genesis 21:33 NRSVUE

“For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call to him?” Deuteronomy 4:7 NRSVUE

“Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called upon His name; They called upon the LORD, and He answered them. He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar; They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.” Psalm 99:6-7

“I love the LORD because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the LORD, ‘O LORD, I pray, save my life!’… I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD;… I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.” Psalm 116:1-4, 13, 17 NRSVUE

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18 NRSV

Therefore, since Jesus is worshiped as the human enfleshment of Jehovah he must be the eternally blessed God.

To put it simply: One cannot be Jehovah without also being the God who reigns supreme over all creation. And since Jesus is the Jehovah whom all must call upon in order to be saved, then he is most definitely the God who is worthy of everlasting praise and who is sovereign over all creation.

There is further evidence that the inspired Apostle identified Christ as the human incarnation of YHVH:  

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

In the above text Paul has taken an OT passage, namely Isaiah 45:21-23, where YHVH swears that everyone will bow down in recognition of his being the only God that saves, and attributes that to Christ.

The holy Apostle states elsewhere that this universal worship of the Son as YHVH Incarnate will take place at the last day, which is the day when every individual must stand before the judgment seat of Christ:

“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:8-12

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10

Jesus himself affirmed that all judgment was entrusted to him:

“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” Matthew 16:27

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all theholy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46

“For the Father judges NO ONE, but has committed ALL JUDGMENT to the Son,” John 5:22

And yet the OT is emphatically clear that it is Jehovah who shall come to judge and repay mankind:

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Romans 12:19 – Cf. Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalm 94:1

Here are some other ways that the holy Apostle and the rest of the inspired NT writers attribute to the risen Son the same service and worship, which the Hebrew Bible typically ascribes to YHVH:

“not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11

“Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:15-16

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God AND OF CHRIST, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6

Note that believers are priests of Christ who minister to and serve the risen Lord by offering him all the human beings that have believed the Gospel.

Moreover, all those from among the nations that first came to faith are described as being the first-fruits of God and Christ:

“Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.” Romans 16:5

“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God AND TO THE LAMB.And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:1-5

What makes this remarkable is that the Hebrew Bible states that true believers are the priests and servants of YHVH God,

“But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast.” Isaiah 61:6

And that all first-fruits belong to Jehovah alone!

“Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown. Israel was holiness to the Lord, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,’ says the Lord.” Jeremiah 2:2-3

Jesus is, therefore, being described as Jehovah Almighty, which also explains why all the angels worship him,

“And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’” Hebrews 1:6 NRSVUE

As YHVH their God:

“Praise, O heavens, his people; worship him, all you gods! For he will avenge the blood of his children and take vengeance on his adversaries; he will repay those who hate him and cleanse the land for his people.” Deuteronomy 32:43 NRSVUE

“Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and the Lord shall purge the land of his people.” LXX

“All servants of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.” Psalm 97:7 NRSVUE

“Let all that worship graven images be ashamed, who boast of their idols; worship him, all ye his angels.” Psalm 96:7 LXX

This further helps us appreciate why Christ taught that all must honor him in the exact same way that they honor the Father:

“so that all may honor the Son JUST AS they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” John 5:23 NRSVUE

And why John beheld God’s unique Son receiving the exact same worship the Father receives from every created thing in the entire creation!

“When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to break its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.’ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ Then I heard EVERY CREATURE in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and ALL THAT IS IN THEM, singing, ‘To the one seated on the AND TO THE LAMB be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’ And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:8-14 NRSVUE

I.e., Christ is no mere creature. Rather, the Son as to his very nature and being is uncreated since, in perfect, inseparable union with the Father and the Spirit, he is YHVH Almighty!  

Paul is not through yet since he also references the following OT texts, where Jehovah is said to be the God that took gifts after ascending on high and who fills heaven and earth,

“Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell with them.” Psalm 68:18 ASV

“Am I a God at hand, saith Jehovah, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.” Jeremiah 23:23-24 ASV

And applies them to the risen Christ!

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: ‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.’ (Now this, ‘He ascended’—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)” Ephesians 4:7-10

Even the epistle to the Hebrews, which has been traditionally ascribed to Paul, has the Father quoting the following OT citation, which describes YHVH as the unchangeable Creator and Sustainer of all creation,

“A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You… But You, O Lord, shall endure forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations… Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.” Psalm 102:1, 12, 25-27

In reference to Christ in the same context where the risen Son is said to be the God who reigns forever,

“But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God (ho Theos), is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.’ And: ‘YOU, LORD [the Son], in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of YOUR hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.’” Hebrews 1:8-12

Which is itself a quotation of the following Psalm, where the coming King is worshiped and praised as Adonay Elohim (the Lord God),

“Your throne, O God (Elohim), is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions… So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord (Adonayik), worship Him… I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.” Psalm 45:6-7, 11, 17 NRSVUE

And which echoes the prophecy of Isaiah, where the Messianic Child is called the Mighty God,

“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. 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 9:6-7

A title which the prophet attributes to Jehovah in the very next chapter!

“And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God.” Isaiah 10:20-21

In other words, Hebrews describes Jesus as the immutable Creator and Sustainer of all creation, being the Mighty God and sovereign Lord who condescended to be born as a male child in order to reign upon David’s throne forever and ever!

Finally, the holy Apostle attests that after his resurrection Christ has been exalted far above all creation, where he reigns as the Lord of both the living and the dead, being the King of kings and Lord of lords:

“For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” Romans 14:9

“and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE all principality and power and might and dominion, and EVERY NAME that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put ALL THINGS under His feet, and gave Him to be head OVER ALL THINGS to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:19-23

“that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which HE will manifest in HIS own time, HE WHO is the blessed and ONLY Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, WHO alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to WHOM be honor and everlasting power. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:14-16  

Paul isn’t the only inspired author to make such claims about the risen Lord:

“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven… He who comes from above is ABOVE ALL; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is ABOVE ALL.” John 3:13, 31

“The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—” Acts 10:36

“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6  

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14

Once again, since the OT identifies Jehovah as the Lord of lords who is exalted above all created beings,  

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:17

“For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.” Psalm 97:9 NRSVUE

“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name ALONE is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.” Psalm 148:13 NRSVUE

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:” Psalm 136:3

This again proves that Jesus is being described as Jehovah God Almighty that became flesh.

In light of the foregoing, could the Holy Bible be any clearer in depicting Jesus as the eternally praised God who reigns supreme over all creation?

Unless noted otherwise, scriptural references taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Holy Bible.

FURTHER READING

JESUS AS GOD IN ROMANS 9:5

Jesus who is over all, God blessed forever! (Romans 9:5) [Part 1]

Jesus who is over all, God blessed forever! (Romans 9:5) [Part 2]

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