Jesus says he doesn’t speak his own words but what the Father commanded him to say.
John 12 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
The Father is the only true God. John 17:3
John 17:3 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
The Holy Spirit is the Father’s Spirit. We can clearly see this by looking at two verses, Matthew 12:28 and John 14:10
Matthew 12 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
John 14 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
By reading these two verses we know that he is using the Spirit of God or Holy Spirit to cast out demons and we also know that it is the Father doing the works. In order for both of these to be true, the Spirit of God is the Father’s Spirit. Jesus is not telling us it is two parts of the trinity that man wants you to believe.
The Father is greater than I. John 14:28
John 14 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
Jesus prays to the Father. John 17 and many other verses.
Jesus teaches us to pray and tells us to pray to the Father. Luke 11:2-4
2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,[a]
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Jesus says, God sent him and told him exactly what to tell us. John 12:49
John 49-50 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
Jesus quickly corrects people who say or think he is God, and/or if they think he claims to be God. Mark 2:7, Luke 5:21, John 5, and John 8
Mark 2 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—
Luke 5 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“
John 5 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 8 21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
John 5 is not only telling them Jesus is not God but that he learns from the Father. And John 8 says the Father taught him. You should read John 8 in more detail but it is so long, so the above are just a few verses.
I write this in hopes that it will help you to understand who Jesus says he is.
Read your Bible with your own eyes 
Thanks for your interesting post. I have several questions, but I will just start with a few softball questions first. What are your thoughts on John 20:28 where Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God?” Was Thomas incorrect for saying this? Why did Jesus not rebuke him for calling him God if he was a created being?
How about your interpretation of Revelation 1:7-8. In verse 7, we can clearly see that those who “pierced him” is not referring to the Father but to “Jesus.” Then, in verse 8, the Almighty one is speaking, which we would refer to as Yahweh, correct? Anyways, the Lord God says he is the one who is, and who was, and who is to come.” Isn’t the one who is coming Jesus since He is coming with the clouds and will be judging the living and the dead in the context of this passage?
I appreciate your feedback.
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Thank you for your comment. First let me say, I am searching for answers too. In reference to John 20:28, I would have to answer with what Jesus said. John 10 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
As for Revelation 1:7-8, I have not seen were Jesus claimed to be God. So I would look at Revelations 1: 4-8 ESV 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail[b] on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Look what John tells us in verses 5 and 6, that Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth, and he freed us from our sins by his blood, and continuing in verse 6 John writes Jesus made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father. Verse 8 can’t be saying Jesus is God, when he just finished telling you he made us priest to his God and Father.
Thanks for asking, I hope this helps.
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If Jesus is not God, then how would you describe him? The firstborn of creation? Greater than the angels? Solely a prophet?
Also, would God the Father leave the judgment of the living dead to a created being? If so, are you comfortable knowing that Jesus, not God Almighty, determines our eternal state?
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Yes, I do believe Jesus was God’s first creation, Colossians 1:15 tells us this. The Bible clearly tells us that all things were created for him and through him. He is so much better than man says he is. Man, makes him a god because they don’t think he can do what he did without being a god. Because they said he was a god, and because man deciding that the Holy Spirit is not Gods Spirit but a separate person, they had to make the trinity because they couldn’t have three gods, since there is only one True God. Which Jesus tells us in John 17:3, that the Father is the only True God.
Actual Jesus did accomplish what he did without being God. He had the Spirit of God, like we do, although he did have it without measure. How did he do it? Faith and love, in and for, God the Father.
Who is Jesus? The Father’s Son, a free gift from God, our Savior, the only path to God, our High Priest, our King, our teacher, mentor, mediator to God, and so much more.
1 Corinthians 15:27-28 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. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Judgement
Yes, I’m very comfortable with Jesus being the Judge, but is he? What does Jesus say about Judgement?
John 5 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Not only does Jesus deny their thoughts that he claims to be God but tell us that the Father does all the works. And yes, he says the Father judges no one. And yes, it appears that he will Judge, but does he? Let’s read on.
John 5 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 8 23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” 27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
Does Jesus sound like he is claiming to be equal to the Father as they (man) thinks? The Father taught him! Isn’t he denying to be equal to God the Father? Just doing the Father’s will. In Judgement the Father’s will, will be done.
John 5 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 12 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
Here Jesus says he didn’t come to Judge, and continues saying that if you don’t keep his words, he is not the Judge. What will condemn us? The very words that Jesus has spoken. Jesus then tells us that God the Father told him to give us all that he has spoken and those Words lead to eternal life.
So, who Judges us, the Word of God The Father, given to us by Jesus. If we are not written in the Book of Life, we are condemn by the Words the Father gave us through Jesus.
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Thank you for this informative reply. I will definitely have to think through this doctrine. I do have some doubts with The Trinity, especially the role of the Holy Spirit. But the deity of Christ really is a major theological change. Thanks again for your reply.
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Also, in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The word became flesh. Is that not a direct relationship between God and Jesus since the word became flesh in John 1:14?
I also have questions about the several I am statements by Jesus which flirts with the name of God, “I AM who I AM”, his ability to forgive sins, and the strong greek word for “worship” when Jesus ascends to heaven and is praised in Matthew 14:33 on the boat.
I really am interested in your thoughts. Sorry I have asked so many questions. I speak to you with grace and peace. Blessings!
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In response to John 1:1 and John 1:14. John didn’t just write these few verses he wrote the Gospel of John. If you read his gospel you can see he didn’t think Jesus was God. He made a statement in the same chapter that says no man has seen God but Jesus. John saw Jesus in the flesh and he saw him after the resurrection in his resurrected body. Yet John said that no man has seen God, but the son.
What John is saying in this opening statement; my wife and I hae thought about that a lot, we know that he can’t be saying Jesus is God because Jesus says he isn’t and of course John doesn’t either in is Gospel. Does John or any of the Disciples ever call Jesus the Word. I haven’t seen it. Jesus does say that God commanded him to say the Word that he told us. I looked up word or in Greek Λόγος, means, or today they use Logos, there are a different words that it could refer to and looking a different translation’s of the Bible it looks consistent with the usage of the word, Word.
Look at Revelation 19:13, which is also written by John and uses the word Logos. Rev 19: 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Looking here he says Jesus name was The Word of God. Where does Jesus say he got the Word of God. His Father gave the Word to Jesus and commanded him to tell us exactly what he said.
John 14: 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
You should be able to see here that it wasn’t Jesus that was the Word, it is God’s Word, that is the Word. A Pastor had me watch a video about the trinity, they were talking about personification of Gods Attributes. Could this be what John was doing in John 1:1? The personification of the Word that was given to Jesus, and as verse 1:8 the Word which God gave to Jesus which brought Gods Word to us in the flesh.
I Am – This seems like a common concern and may people quote it to prove Jesus is God, but if we read Jesus’s words, he doesn’t say he is and actual says he isn’t. I think there are about 7 I am statements, lets look at John 14 6-11. Verse 10 makes it clear that the Father is doing the works.
John 14 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Worship in Matthew 14:33
I believe I understand your concern; why didn’t he stop them? Truth, I don’t know but I do see that they worshipped him saying, Truly you are the Son of God.
Matthew 14 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Thanks again for your comment and I do hope this is helping. I don’t know all the answers, I am still learning too, but I know that Jesus words are true. That is with the exceptions of the changes, and adding that man has done.
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