Proving something with the Bible

Often times people make random statements.  “The bible doesn’t say homosexuality is wrong!” or “If you believe in a work’s based salvation you’re going to hell!”  We see statements like this often on facebook.  They make me laugh sometimes  - people can say anything on the internet – but they also sadden the biblical teacher in me: there are a lot of people in this world who really don’t know how to think biblically.

That made me realize that it is important to explain how you prove that the bible actually says something.  Did you know that many of the truths in the bible are uncontested and very clear?  Many people say things like “it’s up to your interpretation” but this is just a cop-out: we need to look at scripture and learn how to actually prove what it’s saying.

Thus I’ll give a little example: I’ll prove that Jesus is God.

Proving that Jesus is God: Part 1

This is an important truth to consider.  People often argue that Jesus isn’t God.  I was debating people the other day who claimed that the bible never claims that Jesus is God – people made that up on their own.

So first I went to this passage: John Chapter One.

When you’re making a scriptural argument you first need to consider the context of the verse listed.  I’ve seen many people try to prove a truth based on something that one of Job’s friends said to him – this is not a good tactic to take because if you understand the book of Job properly you realize that in the end God rebukes many of the things Job’s friends say.  It doesn’t make much sense to use sources that the bible attacks itself.

The great thing about John Chapter One is that it is a complete narrative – in other words whatever is said is absolutely true because it is truth written by an apostle inspired by the Holy Spirit.  John says this:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4  In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

This verse is pretty simple, but since we’re making an argument we now have to explain what the verse says in context and how this relates to the argument we’re making.

The context of John’s first verses are simple: he is introducing his Gospel by explaining that to properly understand his book you need to understand who the main character is.  He says in the beginning was the Word.  This Word is symbolic.  It was with God and the Word was God.

Later on we read this:

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In other words the Word is Jesus Christ.  So we can make a simple argument: Jesus is the Word; the Word is God – therefore Jesus is God..  Pretty simple, right?

Proving that Jesus is God: Part 2

One scripture is normally enough to answer simple questions, but the more scriptures you can point to the stronger your argument is.  That’s why we’re moving to part two, and taking a little peek at the first chapter of Hebrews.

Hebrews is a very interesting book because it shows the superiority of Christ.  The first chapter starts with this:
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
In other words Jesus his the way that God speaks to us now.  When we truly understand that Jesus is how God communicates with us now we start to understand why John called Jesus the “Word” in John 1.  In this verse we also learn that Jesus is the Creator.  That alone could prove our argument – the bible says that God created the world, so if Jesus created the world doesn’t that say that he’s God?But our argument gets stronger as we read on:
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, 
“You are my Son,    
today I have begotten you”?

Or again, 
“I will be to him a father,    
and he shall be to me a son”?
In other words Jesus’ relationship to God the father is superior to the angels.  But we must go on to prove our point again:
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 
“Let all God's angels worship him.”

The only one that can be worshipped is God.  If God commands the angels to worship Jesus doesn’t that declare that Jesus is God?  But let’s keep going.
7 Of the angels he says, 
“He makes his angels winds,    
and his ministers a flame of fire.”

8 But of the Son he says, 
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
But this verse ends all discussion.  The writer simply says that Jesus is God.  He explicitly states that this verse refers to Jesus.  The verse says “Your throne, O God…”  We need look no further.  The fact that we went through this section verse by verse helps explain that we’re not taking this verse out of context and we’re not twisting something to say what we want to make it say.  We simply let scripture speak for itself.
Conclusion:
Whenever we want to make an argument with scripture the most powerful argument is letting scripture speak for itself.  So I have a question for you: what other verses prove that Jesus is God?  Can you explain the context of the passage and how it makes the argument?
    the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”