The Bible Is Primarily God-Centered, Not Christ-Centered

Last updated on: August 3, 2021 at 10:00 pm by Kermit Zarley

The Bible Is Primarily God-Centered, Not Christ-Centered 2021-08-03T22:00:13-07:00 Kermit Zarley

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

So many Christians get this wrong. They are taught that the Bible is primarily Christ-centered and that a person’s faith should be judged accordingly. I say “judged” because this issue is actually treated by the institutional church as a life and death matter, that is, eternal life.

Ever since the so-called First Ecumenical Council–conducted by the Catholic Church and hosted by Roman Emperor Constantine in the year 325 at his palace in Nicaea, near Constantinople–the institutional church has said that Jesus is just as much God as the Father is God so that the Father is not superior in any way to Jesus. That means the Bible must be just as much Christ-centered as it is God-centered.

I believe that is quite wrong. The Bible is primarily God-centered, with God being the one whom Jesus called “the/my Father. [For more about this subject, in the menu at my Kermit Zarley Blog click on “Christology.” Better yet, read my book, The Restitution of Jesus Christ.] Salvation is through Christ, but it is God who saves. My favorite Bible verse reflects this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son [Jesus], so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3.16). So, God sent Jesus, not Jesus sent God. The next verse says, “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (v. 17). So, it is God who sends and saves, and he does it through Jesus who is the Christ, who died on the cross for our sins. Our part is to merely believe it this with all sincerity, letting Jesus make a difference in our lives by making him Lord through following his teachings. And he said of them, “I speak these things as the Father instructed me” (John 8.28), showing his subordination to God the Father.

Here are a few Old Testament texts (from the New Revised Standard Version=NRSV) that support what I’m saying about God-centeredness, with the ultimate authority being God:

“God,” not Jesus, “created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1.1)
Man was made “in the image of God” (Gen 1.26-27), not in the image of Jesus.
God, not Jesus, chose Israel and made a covenant with that nation.
YHWH said of Jesus, not vice versa, “Here is my servant,… my chosen” (Isa 42.1).
God, not Jesus, gave the Ten Commandments to Moses.
YHWH (name translated “LORD” in Bibles), not Jesus, is God (Exodus 3.14-17).
YHWH, not Jesus, said to Moses, “I am the God of your father,… Abraham”(v. 6).
“The LORD [=YHWH],” not Jesus, “is our God, the LORD alone” (Deut 6.4).
God gives the kingdom to Jesus, not vice versa (Daniel 7.13-14).

In the New Testament gospels, Jesus presents himself as being primarily God-centered, not self-centered thus Christ-centered. Jesus is very clear about this, that to come to God one must go through Jesus. Thus, for Jesus, God is the ultimate destiny, the ultimate authority, the source of all things, the main one with whom we must have to do, and God has made Jesus the conduit through whom we approach God. Here are some New Testament texts showing God’s sovereignty, making him alone “The Almighty” (=pantokrator, said eight times in the Greek NT of God and never of Jesus):

God sent Jesus, and the one who sends is greater than the one who is sent.
God said of Jesus at his baptism, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3.17).
Jesus did not teach his disciples to pray to himself but to God, whom he called “Father,” saying, “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6.9; cf. Luke 11.2).
Jesus quoted scripture to the devil, not telling him to worship Jesus but applying it to himself, saying, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him” (Matthew 3.10), so that that God was the God of Jesus. So, Jesus had a God, but God didn’t.
Jesus said God the Father “has given all judgment to the Son [Jesus], not vice versa (John 5.22).
Jesus said God the Father “has given him [Jesus] authority to execute judgment,” not vice versa (John 5.27).
Jesus: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14.6).
Jesus: “I am going to the Father because the Father is greater than I” (John 14.28).
Peter: “deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him,” Jesus (Acts 2.22). Thus, God was the source of these attributes Jesus had.
Peter did not preach to repent toward Jesus that he might forgive, but, “Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3.19).
Peter did not preach that Jesus empowered himself but that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power” (Acts 10.38).
Paul wrote, “Christ belongs to God,” not vice versa (1 Corinthians 3.23).
Paul wrote, “God is the head of Christ,” not vice versa (1 Corinthians 11.3).

Christology

Christ-centered

God-centered

Previous Post

July 29, 2021

Christian Anti-Vaxxers--Do You Know Jesus Will Rule with a Rod of Iron?

Next Post

August 5, 2021 Religious Exemption from Vaccine Mandates Is Morally Wrong

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Angels Billy Graham Blog Description Book Reviews Christian Living Christianity Christology Church History Current Events Deity of Christ? Disarmament Eschatology Evangelicalism Ezekiel 38-39 Film Reviews God Golf Gospel Harmonization Health History Holy Spirit Incarnation? Interview Islam Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Jesus Last Empire Literary Announcements Major Championship Winners Masters Monotheism My Books New Testament Old Testament Politics Primitive Weapons Ryder Cup Science Society of Biblical Literature The Bible The Restitution of Jesus Christ Trinitarianism Trinity? Uncategorized Unconditional Love? War on Terrorism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What biblical figure was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac on an altar?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Abraham Isaiah Moses Noah

Books by This Author Books by Kermit Zarley Blog

See All Titles »