Decoding The Da Vinci Code (Part 2)
“When we told you about the power and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling clever stories that someone had made up.” (2 Peter 1:16, Contemporary English Version)
However, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code accuses us of believing a lie. The controversial bestseller claims that “almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false.” Allegedly, the early church believed Jesus was not God but only “a mortal prophet... a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless.” Supposedly, the doctrine that Christ is God was only “officially proposed and voted on in the Council of Nicea” in 325 A.D. And, the book emphasized, it was “a relatively close vote”.
But that is not historically accurate! The Da Vinci Code did not get the facts straight. The Council of Nicea merely affirmed that Jesus is God. It did not invent the doctrine. It only recognized what the apostles really taught. And, when the Council adopted a creed in favor of the truth that Christ is divine, it was a vote of 316 to 2. Not really a close vote, as Dan Brown falsely claimed. [1]
The Lord Jesus Himself claimed to be God. He declared, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30, New International Version) In other words, He is equal with the Father. The Jews understood what He meant so they “picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’ ‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’ ” (John 10:31-33)
The apostles also taught that Jesus is God. Paul wrote, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:5-7) Thomas exclaimed upon confirming that Christ did rise from the dead: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) Even the Father called Jesus God. “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8)
And, by the way, the New Testament was already completed by 90 A.D. So it means that, even before the Council of Nicea, the early church believed that Jesus is God!
So, we are not following “clever stories that someone had made up.” We base our faith on the firm foundation of the truth!
[1] For more information, download the summary of Cracking Da Vinci’s Code at http://www.christianbooksummaries.com/library/v3/cbs0304.pdf
However, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code accuses us of believing a lie. The controversial bestseller claims that “almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false.” Allegedly, the early church believed Jesus was not God but only “a mortal prophet... a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless.” Supposedly, the doctrine that Christ is God was only “officially proposed and voted on in the Council of Nicea” in 325 A.D. And, the book emphasized, it was “a relatively close vote”.
But that is not historically accurate! The Da Vinci Code did not get the facts straight. The Council of Nicea merely affirmed that Jesus is God. It did not invent the doctrine. It only recognized what the apostles really taught. And, when the Council adopted a creed in favor of the truth that Christ is divine, it was a vote of 316 to 2. Not really a close vote, as Dan Brown falsely claimed. [1]
The Lord Jesus Himself claimed to be God. He declared, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30, New International Version) In other words, He is equal with the Father. The Jews understood what He meant so they “picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’ ‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’ ” (John 10:31-33)
The apostles also taught that Jesus is God. Paul wrote, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:5-7) Thomas exclaimed upon confirming that Christ did rise from the dead: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) Even the Father called Jesus God. “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8)
And, by the way, the New Testament was already completed by 90 A.D. So it means that, even before the Council of Nicea, the early church believed that Jesus is God!
So, we are not following “clever stories that someone had made up.” We base our faith on the firm foundation of the truth!
[1] For more information, download the summary of Cracking Da Vinci’s Code at http://www.christianbooksummaries.com/library/v3/cbs0304.pdf
Kakalungkot naman, thus Dan Brown really know Jesus Christ? Even in Mark 3:22, Scribes are telling, na si Jesus Christ yung Demon, But actually yung pang mga Demon ang nakakikilala talaga kay Jesus Christ (Luke 4:33-34). Thanks Pastor for another lesson I've learned. Keeep it up. I'm counting on you. God Bless
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog regularly. I really appreciate it! Feel free to e-mail me or post a comment if you have questions or prayer requests. God richly bless you.
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