“…Paul confirms our creed, ‘that Christ is very God.’

“We need such frequent confirmation of our faith, for Satan will not fail to attack it. He hates our faith. He knows that it is the victory which overcometh him and the world.

“That Christ is very God is apparent in that Paul ascribes to Him divine powers equally with the Father, as for instance, the power to dispense grace and peace. This Jesus could not do unless He were God.

“To bestow peace and grace lies in the province of God, who alone can create these blessings. The angels cannot. The apostles could only distribute these blessings by the preaching of the Gospel.

“In attributing to Christ the divine power of creating and giving grace, peace, everlasting life, righteousness, and forgiveness of sins, the conclusion is inevitable that Christ is truly God.

“Similarly, St. John concludes from the works attributed to the Father and the Son that they are divinely One.

“Otherwise Paul should have written: ‘Grace from God the Father, and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ.’ In combining them he ascribes them equally to the Father and the Son. I stress this on account of the many errors emanating from the sects.

“The Arians were sharp fellows…they were yet able to deny His divinity. The Arians took Christ for a noble and perfect creature, superior even to the angels, because by Him God created heaven and earth.

“Mohammed also speaks highly of Christ. But all their praise is mere palaver to deceive men. Paul’s language is different. To paraphrase him: ‘You are established in this belief that Christ is very God because He gives grace and peace, gifts which only God can create and bestow.’”

© Thomas P. Hill (www.masterministries.org)

Personal Information: Thomas P. Hill, M. A. in Ministry, Luther Rice Seminary; author of 3 books: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing; Homosexuality, Christians, and the Church; and Keys To A Revolutionary Life (all available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Tom’s web site). To invite Tom to speak at your college, church, or group, contact him by email at [email protected].

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