The “babe in the manger” was “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16 KJB).
Look at the contextual progression of Philippians 2:4-11.
1 Christ Jesus (2:5)
2 Equal with God (2:6)
3 Made—no reputation (2:7)
4 took—form of a servant (2:7)
Made—likeness of men (2:7)
4 death of the cross (2:8)
3 Highly exalted (2:9)
2 given Him a name (2:9)
1 Jesus Christ is Lord (2:9)
The LORD answered the question of the ‘scholars’ by saying that he was the same Person who was in the Old Testament by the name of I AM.
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
This infuriated the unbelievers. They knew what the LORD JESUS CHRIST claimed. It was so clear to them that He claimed to be GOD; they attempted to stone him for what they thought was blasphemy. (Read John 8:59 and 10:33).
The LORD JESUS CHRIST also taught that He was I AM by using certain descriptive terms of Himself.
- I am the bread of life. John 6:35.
- I am the light of the world. John 8:12.
- I am the door. John 10:7.
- I am the good shepherd. John 10:11.
- I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25.
- I am the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6.
- I am the vine. John 15:1.
His position as the second member of the Trinity necessitates that He be called the Son of God. In order for the Father to be eternal, there must be an eternal and equal Son. If there is no eternal Son, there is no eternal Father.
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
The Lord Jesus Christ has many enemies. These enemies constantly try to rob Him of His Deity. These enemies tamper with any Bible passage they can to eliminate any references to HIS DEITY. Look at the following perversions in these new “bibles”.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)
Luke 2:33 – Father and Mother
GOOD NEWS FOR MODERN MAN (GNMM)
Luke 2:33 – Father and Mother
NEW AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION (NASV)
Luke 2:33 – Father and Mother
NEW WORLD TRANSLATION (NWT-Jehovah Witnesses bible)
Luke 2:33 – Father and Mother
AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION (ASV)
Luke 2:33 – Father and Mother
KING JAMES BIBLE:
And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. (Luke 2:33)
The KJB does not call Joseph “father” like the perverted ‘bibles’ do! In fact, the cults—like the Jehovah Witnesses change every passage in the Bible to reduce the Deity of Christ. The NWT (JW’s bible) reads like a wet dish rag on every passage that states the Deity of Christ.
Someone said, “The devil burned the Bible in the past and that didn’t destroy it, so he decided to let people keep the Bible while he changed the words”.
- IMPECCABILITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The Lord Jesus Christ never apologized, excused Himself or explained any of His attitudes, actions or intentions. He is above all limitation of character. Although many disagreed with Him at various times, He never changed to conform to man’s ideas or viewpoints.
He knew no sin:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- He equated His works with those of God the Father.
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
- His works always pleased the Father.
John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
- The Devil had no place in Him.
John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
- He succumbed to no temptation.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Even though He was directly and personally tempted by the Devil himself, the Lord Jesus Christ proved in Matthew 4 that He WOULD not sin. He did not allow temptation to see whether He would sin or not. The temptation DEMONSTRATED what was already in His Divine character, it did not develop it. The Lord Jesus Christ needed no development in His Deity. And it was His Deity that guaranteed His humanity was incorruptible both morally and spiritually. Since the Lord Jesus Christ was both God and Man in one person, no part of His Person was liable to sin.—Dave Reese December 2016
