A Law Is Given

In Exodus 20 an amazing thing begins to occur. God given as law to His people. Not just a few pointers (like make sure you worship me and remember that I’m your God—although that is in there), but a systematic set of regulations that cover religious duties (sacrifices, priests, worship, a tabernacle, etc.) moral and ethical considerations (treatment of—and attitudes—towards family, neighbors, employees, foreigners, business dealings etc.) and all manner of other things that might not normally seem to men as as things worthy of divine consideration such dietary restrictions, disease control, hygiene issues. 

But on the whole, this system of laws so far beyond the other legal systems at the time, and so universally beneficial and helpful for those that followed out that many can’t grasp that it was given for only one nation, and only until Christ came. But it was. For its greatest purpose was to bring people to Christ. The law itself said as much in Deut. 1:18,19. 

Many have taken the precepts and principles of this law and applied them to all many of social interactions and even health crises (like the plague of leprosy in western Europe of the 11th century, or the practice of washing one’s hands after touching unclean things or before meals) to the benefit of all involved. The law of Moses has helpful and healthful benefits on every page, but that was not its main purpose.

The New Testament clearly states that the Law of Moses was a “tutor to lead us to Christ.” (Gal. 3:34). While acknowledging the myriads of good in the Law, let us always remember to put the main one first.

The _____ Of God

In this week’s reading the phrase “_insert things here_ of God” occurred in two conspicuous places. 

This construction was first found when Moses was on the “mountain of God” when God appeared to him in the burning bush. (3:1) This struck me as a bit odd since nothing had yet happened on this mountain. The same description is used4:27 when Aaron meets Moses there. But the meaning of this seems fully revealed in Ex. 24:13, when Moses and Joshua went up on the “mountain of God” to receive the Law. 

And also the term “staff of God” occurs in our reading (Ex. 4:20) and will occur once more (Ex. 17:9). Of course we know a lot more about this staff than just these two verses since Moses staff mentioned 19 times in Exodus. With it he turned the water of the Nile to blood (7:15-20), summoned the frogs (8:5) and gnats (8:16), brought the thunder and hail (9:23),  the locust (10:13), parted the Red Sea (Ex. 14:16), and finally was raised to give victory of the Amalekites (17:9). 

When I looked into “_insert things here_ of God” I found that this construction occurs over 850 in the Bible. It always denotes a thing especially dedicated to, or belonging to God. It is very thought provoking to consider the things belonging to or dedicated to God:

House of God, 78

Man of God, 73

Kingdom of God, 65

Word of God, 47

Son of God, 43

Ark of God, 33

Spirit of God, 24

Will of God, 23

Grace of God, 20

Wrath of God, 12

Love of God, 11

Children of God, 10

Gospel of God, 8

Church of God, 8

Fear of God, 7

Angels of God, 7

Throne of God, 6

Salvation of God, 3

Don’t Take Your Idols To The House Of God

As Jacob was headed to Laban’s house to seek a wife (and flee his brother Esau’s wrath), he met God at a place he would call “Beth-el” (“Beth” meaning house and “el” meaning God). “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven”…And he called the name of that place Bethel” (Gen. 28:17,19)

Twenty five or so years later, when Jacob and his family needed to leave Shechem because of the actions of his sons, he was called by God to go back to that place. “Then God said to Jacob, ‘Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.’” (Gen. 35:1)

Before going to the place of God, Jacob knew that his family had some things to correct. Over the years they had become too much like the world in their religion and their actions. “So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments; and let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and has been with me wherever I have gone.” (Gen. 35:2,3)

They had many things that they needed to leave behind in Shechem and not take to the house of God. They needed to leave the idols Rachel took from her father’s house and the duplicity they had practiced their neighbors. They need to “change their clothes” and go worship God. 

It is fitting that later Joshua chose Shechem to give his rousing “Choose you this day” speech against idolatry.  (Josh. 24) In every generation, we need to leave some things in Shechem and go to Bethel.

God’s 4 Chapter Speech To Job

The later chapters of Job are striking to me for two reasons. First, and most obviously, it is by far the longest speech that God Himself makes in the entire Bible, and not be a little bit, but by a lot.

 In the New Testament the direct speeches from God are just the brief announcements of Jesus as His beloved son at His baptism and transfiguration. In the Old Testament direct speech from God is recorded more often, such as speaking to Moses in the burning bush, giving the Ten Commandments in His own voice the very first time they are given and a conversation with Elijah in 1 Kings 19 about the 7,000 who have not bowed to Baal.  But still, any direct speech from God is extraordinary, especially since there is nothing else near this length.

In this long speech (Ch. 38-41) God doesn’t give Job the answer He seeks.  He rebukes Job for his insolence and then He gives him reason to trust God 

38:4,5“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it?“

God goes on to ask about the stars, the sea, the clouds, the sunrise, the snow, hail, rain, the constellations, the beasts: goat, ostrich, horse and hawk, the Behemoth and Leviathan. Was any man there to set that up with God?  If no, and obviously it is no, then why ask how He governs the world and does it wrongly. The answer God gave did not tell Job why he suffered, but that a great and wise God knew about it and was ruling the world in a marvelous manner. That the answer Job got, and its one for all of us to remember.

The Book Of Job

The entirety of our daily Bible reading was entirely in Job this week, and it will be until Thursday, when we get back to the life of Abraham in Gen. 12. This long trip through such a difficult book to begin the Bible reading program was main reason why we almost didn’t do a chronological program. But, if we want to read the whole Bible, we have to approach it some time, and it is a rewarding study for those who do it. 

Job is the first book in what is often called the “Books of Poetry” or the “Wisdom Literature” of the Old Testament. Oswald Chambers offered this summary of these five books:

• Job - How to suffer

• Psalms - How to pray

• Proverbs - How to act

• Ecclesiastes - How to enjoy  

• Song of Solomon - How to love

In reading Job, remember this inspired summary of it in the New Testament: “You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” (Jas 5:11b)

What Job and his friends seemed to never contemplate was the Satan was an actor in the affairs of men as well as God was. Terrible, terrible things happened to Job. But God was gracious to him, especially in the end. Satan was intentionally, and repeatedly evil and harsh in his dealings.

Job’s Children

Our Bible reading this week took us into Job.  Since our reading plan is chronological, we are reading the earliest events first. The exact time of Job's life is unknown, but most believe that he was a contemporary of, or came not long before, Abraham. That’s why our plan has us reading about him just before the story of Abraham. 

Job's children are mentioned in chapter 1. We find all ten of them old enough to have houses of their own, which they generously open up to one another in a wonderful example of sibling sharing. 

The harmonious relationship that they had with one another seems to have been the same kind relationship that they had with their parents. 

Job 1:5 states “And it came about, when the days of feasting had completed their cycle, that Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually”  From this it can be very clearly inferred that they were very outwardly righteous and devout, and gave Job no obvious cause for concern. His concern for them was for secret sins of the heart, which no man can know. He would not have been concerned for such sin if the more common and obvious sins were alive among them.

These children enjoyed as good a life as one could have, right up until Satan took it from them for his own selfish purposes. Surely the great and just God who dealt so right with Job received these kindly as well.

More Blessed To Give Than Receive

Acts 20:33-35“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34“You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.35“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Worldly minded people seldom understand the spiritual words of the Savior, and none are more misunderstood or maligned than the word’s that Paul reminds us of here. 

We don’t know when Jesus spoke these words since they are not recorded or referenced in the gospels. We only know that His inspired apostle attests to these words, and used them to teach the church the proper view of material things: Sharing, not coveting and hoarding.

It is more blessed to give than to receive because Christians view life and possessions are as things to do good with, not to seek for the accumulation or use of them for our own pleasures.

It is more blessed to give than receive because the spiritual is more important than the material. 

It is more blessed to give than to receive because the ability to give means that we have been first blessed to have enough of something to share.

It is more blessed to give than to receive because we follow the example and pattern of the Father. 

Let us seek every opportunity to give important things, both physical and spiritualIt is the blessed way.

Lost But Saved

This past week [Nov. 2013], many in the brotherhood have followed the travails of the Smelser family as one of their sons, Adam aged 25, was lost by accidental drowning while swimming in a river in Kentucky. He drowned on Sunday and his body was found by local authorities Thursday after days of diligent search. Some observations:

The good in social media. The prayers and concern that brethren were able to show and share in with a family in Pennsylvania concerning a son in Kentucky were greatly helped by the connections that we are able to maintain electronically. The smart phones, tablets and computers that instantly present to us all the information in the world are great and powerful tools for either good or evil. Let us use them for good, prayers and brotherly love as they were used this week. 

The dependability of a truly faithful persons habits. Within hours of Adam’s disappearance, days before the authorities found and identified his body, his family and friends the knew in their hearts that it was him. They knew by the location of his truck and his personal effects and by the fact that he was not a church that Sunday evening. He simply didn’t miss any church services. When he missed an evening assembly without cause, the best explanation for it was that he was dead. 

The difference in heavenly and earthly perspective. For the four days Adam was missing to us, Jesus had him all along. We searched for him diligently since he was lost, but in reality he was already fully saved.

If we had such concern for the spiritually lost as the physically lost. The authorities searched for Adam so long and hard that his father told them to go home and rest the day before he was found. Those who recognize the values of lost souls should seek the lost with such devotion.

Consider Jesus: I Am

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

What a person says about themselves is of great importance. To get to know about a person that you have never met you can use two sources to find out about him.  You examine what he says and/or what others say about him. But only in what they themselves say are you assured that you can know their inner thoughts and views. 

Jesus, especially in the gospel of John, said many things about Himself.  Some of those things are:

I am the resurrection and the life   Jn. 11:1-4

I am the Son of GodJn. 5

I am the bread of lifeJn. 6

I am from HimJn. 7:14-30  

I am the light of the world   Jn. 9:1-5; 8:12

I am the Door of the Sheep   Jn. 10:1-10

I am the good shepherdJn. 10:17,18

I am the way, the truth, and the life   Jn. 14:6

I am in the FatherJn. 14:6-11

I am the vine Jn 15

I am king Jn. 18:37

As important to us as all great truths that things are, we should also consider one great “I am” statement in Matthew. Jesus assures us that “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.” (Matt. 18:20)

Consider Jesus: Horn of Salvation

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

At the birth of John the Baptist, his father, the priest Zacharias, prophesied about what was coming and what his son, the prophet was preparing for. Jesus is called to the “horn of salvation” in the house of David.

Luke 1:68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,  69  And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant—  70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—  71Salvation from our enemies. And from the hand of all who hate us;  72  To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant,  73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father”

This the third time in scriptures that the phrase “horn of salvation” occurs. The other two times it occurs are actually the same song of David, the great song of deliverance recorded in the opening of 2 Sam. 22 and Ps. 18.  “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  

The salvation that Jehovah God was to David, Zacharias foresees coming as coming again in the work that Christ would do. For both David and Zacharias the deliverance that they sought was the work of God, and it was ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Christ.

Consider Jesus: Our Hope

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

People viscerally know that earthly existence is ultimately unsatisfying and that true contentment and fulfillment escape us even when worldly circumstances are favorable. Those without faith, and a worldview diminished by selfishness, look to a change of fortune or circumstances to find fulfillment. Others have a spiritual hope, but false spiritual hopes, such as reincarnation or universalism, are weak and unsatisfactory. 

Compared to this is the great bright hope of Christianity believing in “God our Savior, and…Christ Jesus, who is our hope.” (1 Tim. 1:1)

Such hope was present in the Old Testament, “For Thou art my hope; O Lord GOD, Thou art my confidence from my youth.” (Ps. 71:5) And “I have hope in Him.” (Lam. 3:24) Now this “hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,” (Tit. 1:2) is realized in Jesus. 

Jesus, the embodiment of our hope, is the one who came from Heaven to show us the way back there by reconciled us to God and our brothers along the way. This is much better than hoping in riches (1 Tim. 6:17) or any of the vain things of this world.

This hope enlivens everything we do 1 Tim. 4:10 “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”, knowing that it will all go well for us if we do. “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Tit. 2:13) 

So “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:13)

Consider Jesus: The Holy One

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

From the beginning to end, Jesus was the holy one of God.  Before His birth, He was “the holy Child [that] shall be called the Son of God.”  (Luke 1:35) and so at his birth, he was the “holy child” conceived by the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 1:18-20) 

In the beginning of his ministry, he was acknowledged by the frightened demons as “Jesus of Nazareth…I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24 and Luke 4:34) 

His truest friends acknowledged the same thing. “Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”” (Jn. 6:68,69)

Peter would later pray to God, twice acknowledging Jesus as “Your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:27,30) He was preached as the God’s “HOLY ONE” who would not “UNDERGO DECAY” (Acts 2:26,17; 13:35)   

In the epistle who are taught to the priesthood and blessings of Him as the holy one. “For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens” (Heb. 7:26) “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.” (1 Jn. 2:20)

And finally, He gave this testimony of Himself in His message to the church in Philadelphia: “He who is holy, who is true…” (Rev. 3:7)

Consider Jesus: High Priest

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Heb. 4:14-16“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

The promise of the Psalm (110:4) was that the Messiah would be a priest forever, not of the linage of Levi, but of Melchizedek. In Him, and not the Levitical priesthood of the was, is the hope of one who would bring salvation. (Heb. 5:9) 

Jesus did met all the priestly qualification. He was called by God to His post. (Heb. 5:4-6) He offered acceptable sacrifice, in His case, He was both sacrifice and the officiant. (Heb. 7:27; Jn. 10:17,18) And then he interceded with God for man. (1 Tim. 3:15).

Also, being a High Priest, it is clear that He is a head of a class of priests. He has made His followers to be priests (Rev. 1:6) and to service in His temple, the church. (1 Pet. 2:9)

So Jesus is our head priest (and the sacrifice also) who stands near to God for for us and “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

Consider Jesus: Heir Of All Things

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Heb. 2:1“in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

Since He is the true son of theFather, He is the natural and rightful heir. Please note, as Paul did, that “all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Col. 1: 16). 

The scriptures often affirm His rightful ownership. “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father” (Matt. 11:27)  “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.”  (Jn. 3:35) “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands…” (Jn. 13:3)

Jesus Himself also affirmed the same things. “All things that the Father has are Mine” (Jn. 16:16) and “...All things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine” (Jn. 17:10)

It is all His be right of creation and inheritance, from the farthest star to the darkest corner, it all belongs to Him. Satan has taken adverse possession of it as a squatter and a thief and as a leader of others who are with him in staking their illegitimate claim. But the legal and rightful heir will one day take possession back. 

The glorious thing for us it that He has made us to be heirs with Him. (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29, 4:7) He who has all things, including eternal life, has and will fully share them with us.

Consider Jesus: The Head

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

1 Cor. 11:3“But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”

The New Testament repeatedly affirms the headship, the authority and position, of Jesus. He is often styled as the “head of the church” or “head of the body.” (Eph. 1:22, 4:15, 5:23, Col. 1:18, 2:19). He leads, directs, guides, provisions and ultimately saves His church. 

Jesus’ headship over the church is also seen in the fulfillment of the oft-repeated prophecy that He would be made the “chief corner stone” (From Ps. 118:22, said to fulfilled by Christ in Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11 and 1 Pet. 2:7). Some modern translations render this as simply “corner stone” since buildings tend to have but one, and more literal translations give it as “chief corner stone,” but quite literally, if somewhat ineloquently in modern English, “head of the corner.” He is the standard of all that is built in the church. 

But He is not just the head (has the position of authority over) over those who submit to Him, but He is the head of “all rule and authority.” (Col. 2:10) There is not authority that is not under Him. There are some in rebellion to Him, not acknowledging that “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18)

The headship (authority) of Jesus is such that He is the rightful head of all, even those who don’t acknowledge it.  “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man” (1 Cor. 11:3)

Consider Jesus: Governor, Ruler

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Matt. 2:6 “AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER [Governor - KJV], WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.”

The promise is the He will “rule” or “shepherd” God’s people (literally, “oversee and feed”). The great promised the Messiah coming to Israel was to be born in the somewhat obscure town of Bethlehem. The Jewish authorities were easily able to point the magi to the right place when they came looking for the newborn king. 

They all knew that the ruler to come was from Bethlehem, but the rulers of the Jews mistook the type of ruler He would be. Isaiah prophesied that He would have the government on his shoulders, and He would be a great rulers: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (9:6) 

Prophecies of the great ruler to come often spoke of His caring nature as well as His great authority.  The prophecy of Micah 5:2 speaks of Him as ruler while just two verses later, vs. 4, speaks of Him as shepherd. He is a ruler, but one who very much has these best interest of those He rules in mind. 

He is a ruler, a governor, but one with authority and concern like no other.

Consider Jesus: God, The True God

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

1 Jn. 5:19,20 “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 20 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know shim who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” ESV

The last statement of 1 Jn. 5 :20 is a summary and restatement of the truth John had explained at longer length above. Some translations give the restatement as “He is the true God…” and others, “This is the true God…” Some think summary states that the God with us the true one and Jesus His son is the way of eternal life. This is true. Others think this summary states that Jesus Himself is the true God and is the way of eternal life. This is true as well. Which of these senses John means here, you may decide for yourself. 

When John uses the phrase, “The true God” it is to tie belief in Jesus with Jehovah, the living God of in the Old Testament (Ref. 2 Chron. 15:3; Jer. 10:10) as is also done by Jesus Himself and Paul. (Jn. 17:3; 1 Thess. 1:9)  

This great continuity of truth embodied in Jesus is the source of our salvation. He is the true God.

Consider Jesus: God With Us

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Matt. 1:22-25  “Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 23  “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” 24  And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, 25  and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.”

In this familiar passage, Matthew opens the record of the birth of Jesus with the story of Jesus’ history and a quote from Isaiah 7. The quote from Isaiah sets the life of Jesus from the very start as central to the prophesied plan of God, it explains the highly unusual circumstances of His birth, and establishes Jesus as divine, “God with us.”

Jesus is “God with us,” sharing with us, being us. He was not just “God to us,” showing us God, which He did.  And He was not “God similar to us,” being like us in appearance only.  

Instead, there is a great comfort in the reciprocal nature of God’s appearance among man “with us”. He came as man, and in every relevant way like us, while also being divine in nature and expressing deity here. And “with” us, “for” us, coming to help us.

Consider Jesus: God Manifest In The Flesh

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

1 Tim. 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” KJV

Here is the great mystery of God, that God would come in the flesh. He came as a man to redeem man. He came as God to reveal God to us. 

The scriptures as equally and readily affirm Jesus as God in one passage and man in the next. He’s the son of God and the son of man.  

Jn. 1:14 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Rom. 1:3,4  “His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord”

This is a fact hard to explain. The scriptures simply tell us that Mary was overshadowed by the Spirit and through this she conceived. (Ref. Luke 1:35-38) The faith of many has floundered and many heresies have sprung up in trying to explain more than the scriptures affirm and the faithful have always believed: That God was with us in the person of Jesus.

Considering Jesus: God Blessed Forever

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Rom. 9:4,5 “Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”

This proclamation is parallel to the one that Paul opened the books of Romans with. 

Romans 1:3,4  “concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord”

In both of these passages, the line of reasoning is the same. Jesus, who is from the Jews, the descendant of David, according to his fleshly body, is also Divine. And not just slightly elevated, a demi-god, a noble personage, but truly the God, our Lord. He is the one blessed forever. The Jews had already been worshipping Him as God when they worshipped Jehovah in truth, and now we have His person fully known to us and still blessed forever. 

This is the same conclusion that Peter preached and taught as he told people about the work of God that was accomplished in Jesus: “preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)” (Acts 10:36)