Chapter 8 of "Bible Basics" a Bible study manual, dealing with the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, deconstructing the doctrine of the Trinity, showing the differences between God and Jesus, advocating a unitarian approach to God. The book is available from http://www.biblebasicsonline.com

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3. 8.1 Introduction
 1 Tim. 2:5: “There is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.

4.  As there is only one God, it is impossible that Jesus could be
God; if the Father is God and Jesus is also God, then there are
two Gods. “But to us there is but one God, the Father” (1 Cor.
8:6). ‘God the Father’ is therefore the only God. It is therefore
impossible that there can be a separate being called ‘God the
Son’. Yahweh, the one God, is the Father (e.g. Is. 63:16; 64:8).
 In addition to this one God, there is the mediator, the man
Christ Jesus - “...and one mediator...”. That word “and”
indicates a difference between Christ and God.
 As Christ is the “mediator” it means that he is a go-between.
A mediator between sinful man and sinless God cannot be
sinless God Himself; it had to be a sinless man, of sinful
human nature. “The man Christ Jesus” - even though he was
writing after the ascension of Jesus, Paul does not speak of
“the God Christ Jesus”.

5. 8.2 Differences Between God And
Jesus

6. Differences Between God And
Jesus
 GOD  JESUS
 “God cannot be tempted”  Christ “was in all points
(James 1:13). tempted like as we are”
(Heb. 4:15).
 God cannot die - He is  Christ died and was in the
immortal by nature (Ps. grave for three days
90:2; 1 Tim. 6:16). (Mt. 12:40; 16:21). He was
once under the “dominion”
of death (Rom. 6:9).
 Men saw Jesus and
 God cannot be seen by handled him (1 Jn. 1:1
men (1 Tim. 6:16; Ex. emphasises this).
33:20).

7. 8.3 The Nature Of Jesus

8. Tempted Like Us
 “We have not an high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points
tempted like us” (Heb. 4:15).
 The desires which are the basis of our temptations
come from within us (Mk. 7:15-23), from within our
human nature (James 1:13-15). It was necessary,
therefore, that Christ should be of human nature so
that he could experience and overcome these
temptations.

9. Of Our Nature Completely
 Heb. 2:14-18 : “As the children (us) are partakers of
flesh and blood (human nature), he (Christ) also
himself likewise partook of the same (nature); that
through death he might destroy...the devil...For truly
he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took
on him the (nature of the) seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it was appropriate that he be
made like unto his brothers, that he might be a
merciful and faithful high priest... to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he
himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help
them that are tempted”.

10.  “Why do you call me good? There is none good but
one, that is, God” (Mk. 10:17,18).
 Jesus “Knew all, and needed not that any should testify
of man: for he knew what was in man” (Jn. 2:23-25)

11. 8.4 The Humanity Of Jesus

12.  Jesus was weary, and had to sit down to drink from a well
(Jn 4:6).
 “Jesus wept” at the death of Lazarus (Jn. 11:35).
 He “prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this
cup (of suffering and death) pass from me; nevertheless
not as I will, but as you will” (Mt. 26:39). This indicates that
at times Christ’s fleshly desires were different from those of
God.
 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46).

13. The Growth of Jesus
 “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature (i.e. spiritual
maturity, cp. Eph. 4:13), and in favour with God and man”
(Lk. 2:52).
 “The child grew, and became strong in spirit” (Lk. 2:40).
 “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience (i.e.
obedience to God) by the things which he suffered; and
being made perfect (i.e. spiritually mature), he became the
author of eternal salvation” as a result of his completed and
total spiritual growth (Heb. 5:8,9).

14. CHRIST’S NEED OF SALVATION
 Jesus “offered up prayers and supplications with strong
crying and tears unto him (God) that was able to save him
from death, and was heard for his piety” (Heb. 5:7). The
fact that Christ had to plead with God to save him from
death rules out any possibility of him being God in person.
 After Christ’s resurrection, death had “no more dominion
over him” (Rom. 6:9), implying that beforehand it did.
 “God...raised up Jesus...Him has God exalted with his right
hand to be a Prince and a Saviour” (Acts 5:30,31).
 “God...has glorified his Son Jesus...whom God has raised
from the dead” (Acts 3:13,15).

15. 8.5 The Relationship Of God With
Jesus

16.  “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. 11:3).
 Thus “Christ is God’s” (1 Cor. 3:23).
 “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Pet.
1:3; Eph. 1:17) even after Christ’s ascension to heaven.
 “The temple of my God...the name of my God...the city
of my God” (Rev. 3:12). This proves that Jesus even now
thinks of the Father as his God. He spoke of ascending
“unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and
your God” (Jn. 20:17).

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18. STUDY 8: Questions
 1. Does the Bible teach that God is a  5. In which of the following ways was
trinity? Jesus like us?
  He had all of our temptations and human
 2. List three differences between God experiences
and Jesus.  He sinned while a young child
  He needed salvation
 3. Jesus was different from us because:  He had human nature
 He never sinned 
 He was God’s own begotten son  6. Which of the following statements are
 He could never have sinned true?
 He was automatically made righteous by God  Jesus was of a perfect nature and perfect

character
 Jesus was of sinful nature but perfect character
 4. In which of the following ways was
Jesus similar to God?  Jesus was both very God and very man
 He had God’s nature in his life on earth  Jesus had the nature of Adam before he sinned
 He had a perfect character like God 
 He knew as much as God  7. Was it possible for Jesus to sin?
 He was directly equal to God