TEN Bible Lessons - Lesson 10

Jesus is Exactly Like His Brothers

The Bible says that Jesus is like us in every way, and actually had to be in order to make atonement for our sins.  But if Jesus has two natures or two minds ... as orthodox Trinitarianism demands, then Jesus is not like us in every way.  Furthermore, God doesn't have brothers ... but Jesus clearly does.

Hebrews 2:17

"Therefore, he had to be made like his brethren in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."

Romans 8:29

"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brethren"

Jesus Was Given a Name Higher Than the One He Had

The Bible says Jesus was given a name above every name because of his obedience to God.

Philippians 2:8-11

… He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  For this reason God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him a name which is above every name, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hebrews 1:4

So he has become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

Romans 14:9

For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

Acts 2:36

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: GOD has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!

The above post is based on an article taken from here.

TEN Bible Lessons - Lesson 9

Jesus is the Second Adam

The New Testament refers to Jesus as the Second Adam, or the Last Adam, and even says that Adam was a prototype of the Messiah.  The Biblical Unitarian position easily explains this comparison: Jesus was ontologically exactly like Adam, who was the first human son of God (Luke 3:38).  Adam was the son of God who failed, Jesus is the one who was victorious.  God's solution to the problem of sin and death was another Adam, God's legal option according to Romans 5:12-19.  The Christian story is essentially the tale of two Adams, one who disobeys and loses the Kingdom, the other who obeys and reclaims it.

Luke 3:38

"…who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God."

Romans 5:14

"Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.  But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.  And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin.  For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.  If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.  Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.  For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous."

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NRSV)

"For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being.  For as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ."

Jesus Belongs to the Creation of God

Jesus is supposedly an uncreated God with no beginning.  But the Bible says that Jesus is a member of Creation; he is called the chief of all God's created things.

Colossians 1:15

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."

Revelation 3:14

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning (Greek arche: leader/chief) of the creation of God, says this..."

The above post is based on an article taken from here.

TEN Bible Lessons - Lesson 8

Everything Had to be Made Subject to Christ

The New Testament says that before he was exalted, he was beneath the angels.  But after God raised Jesus from the dead, God subjected all things to Jesus, and now the only thing not subjected to Christ is God himself.

Ephesians 1:22

And He (God) put all things in subjection under His (Jesus) feet, and gave Him (Jesus) as head over all things to the church, which is His body.

1 Corinthians 15:27

For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.

Psalm 110:1

Yahweh says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

Hebrews 2:9

but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Acts 2:36

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: GOD has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!

Jesus Hands the Kingdom over to God

If Jesus is God himself coming to rule the world in the Kingdom, why would he hand the Kingdom over to God in a final act of submission so that "God" could rule over everything including Jesus?

1 Corinthians 15:24-28

"then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.  For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.  The last enemy that will be abolished is death.  For “He has put all things in subjection under His feet”.  But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.  When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all."

The above post is based on an article taken from here.

TEN Bible Lessons - Lesson 7

Jesus Does Not Have Inherent Power or Authority

Jesus consistently claims to have no power, no authority, and no initiative of his own.  Both he and the Apostles teach that Jesus was "God", not Jesus, who was the originator of his works.

John 8:28

“I do nothing of my own initiative.”

John 5:30

“By myself I can do nothing…”

John 5:27

“and He (God) gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”

Matthew 28:18

“all authority has been given to me…”

John 14:10

…the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Acts 2:22

"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know..."

Acts 17:31

"For he (God) has set a day when he (God) will judge the world with justice through the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."

The above post is based on an article taken from here.

TEN Bible Lessons - Lesson 6

Jesus is Subordinate to God

The Doctrine of the Trinity says that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are co-equal.  The Bible says Jesus is not equal with God, but is subordinate to him, even after Jesus' exaltation to God's right hand.

John 14:28

… The Father is greater than I.

1 Corinthians 11:3

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

1 Cor 3:22-23

whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

1 Cor 15:24,27-28

Then the end will come, when he [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power… For he [God] “has put everything under his [Jesus'] feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him [Jesus], it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him [God] who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

Jesus Does Not Do His Own Will

Jesus submits to the will of "God"

Luke 22:42

… not my will but Yours be done.

John 5:30, John 8:42

"… I do not seek my own will, but the will of Him who sent me..." "God sent me."

Mark 14:36

"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me.  Yet not what I will, but what you will."

The above post is based on an article taken from here.