This blog has been written, not out of a natural inclination, but out of a deep conviction, born out of prayer and revelation from the Holy Spirit. If you are reading this, be open to the Holy Spirit’s divine insight into the dangers of reverencing mere mortals. In this case, elevating the apostles/New Testament writers to the status of our Savior.
There are times when men and women of God, perhaps, unintentionally, exalt the writers of the Bible rather than their Holy Spirit-inspired revelations. I have heard pastors and spiritual leaders base their sermons on New Testament writers as the sources of biblical revelations in the epistles rather than Holy Spirit’s inspiration. This has also occurred in books. In fact, I am reading a book right now where the author is comparing Paul with Jesus! There is no natural or spiritual comparison of a man to God, my friends!
Scripture confirms that Abba Father, because of man’s sin and fall from grace, sent his Son, Jesus, to redeem his fallen creation. (By the way, Jesus, himself, was part of the collaboration to redeem human beings.) John 3:16 clearly states this:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
There is only one begotten Son of Father God, and he is Jesus.
Jesus, the Creator
Yes, my friends, Jesus was there, “in the beginning.” He was part of the creation process. Human beings were created through him and therefore, cannot be his equivalent! John notes this in John 1:3 that:
Through him (Jesus) all things were made; without him (Jesus) nothing was made that has been made.
Paul also notes Jesus’ part in creation:
“For in him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, . . . All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17)
Nothing, including, man, was made without Jesus.
NT Writers Are Esteemed Men of God
Now, this must be said: we all admire Paul, Peter, John and the other writers of the New Testament books. These men were selected by Jesus, himself, and this blog is, in no way, meant to disparage them. To be clear, these men of God never took credit for the Holy Spirit inspired revelations in their books nor did they take credit for the establishment of the Church in their books. They always pointed to Jesus! They were mighty men of God who “walked the talk.” Their New Testament epistles were “God-breathed,” (2 Timothy 3:16) and they belong in the canons of scripture.
The Apostles Attest to the Lordship of Jesus
The apostles and the writers of the New Testament, themselves, often noted the deity of Jesus.
Here is a scripture where the Apostle John speaks of Jesus’ divinity. He notes in John 1:1-4:
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him (Jesus) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
No man can make that claim and John is careful not to compare himself with Jesus. Take a look at John 1:8:
“He himself (John) was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.”
John further notes in verse 28:
“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God . . .”
Paul admonished the Corinthian church about idolatry—exalting leaders, human beings. Some in Corinth wanted to follow Apollos and some wanted to follow him, Paul. So here is what he said in 1 Corinthians 3: 21 about elevating the status of men:
. . . stop boasting in men. All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you, and you belong to Christ, . . .”
Beware, my friends , because that idolatry can also apply to the worship and elevation of Christian leaders to Godlike status. Your pastor, apostle or other spiritual leaders are not gods! It is an abomination to attribute God-like attributes to a person, whoever they maybe! (Exodus 20:3)
All Scripture Is Based on Jesus
No earthly man can compare even remotely with the Savior of the world! He was and is the chief cornerstone, the Rock, upon which all other foundations in the church are built. Without the chief cornerstone, there would be no church. He was and still is the only one who could pay the price to redeem, save and secure eternal life for humankind.
In addition to that, the epistles are built on the Old Testament which points to Jesus, the Messiah and they corroborate the gospels of the New Testament which depicts the life of Jesus before and after his crucifixion and resurrection. John, in the book of Revelation, presents the end times victorious Jesus Christ: as Deity; Creator; Messiah; Sacrificial Lamb of God; Conquering King and Judge. And on top of that, the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead was sent by Jesus, the second member of the Godhead, after his resurrection. It is that same Holy Spirit, that same divine agent from heaven, who breathed life into all those New Testament books.
The Takeaway
1. This discourse does not mean that Christian leaders should not preach and teach on the apostles and the New Testament writers. They should.
2. The writers of the New Testament were powerful examples of men who were disciples and apostles, chosen by Jesus. They sacrificed their lives for the church and Jesus found them worthy of penning books of the Bible.
3. However, always remember that Jesus is God; Jesus and Jesus alone, is our Savior. He is the main thrust of the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
All praise, honor and worship belong to Jesus, our Lord and Savior; our King of King and Lord of Lords!
Be blessed.
Scripture for Meditation:
John 4:14-15 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
Ephesians 1:22-23 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.
1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow.
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