The deity of Jesus Christ is revealed clearly:
I. By the divine names and titles assigned Him in the Word:
A. "God." In Hebrews 1:8, the Father called Christ "God."
(See also John 20:28 where Thomas cried, "My Lord, and my God.") In Titus 2:13, all
believers are to be found "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God . . . . our Saviour Jesus Christ."
B. "The Son of God." Peter astutely observed, "thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God" (Mt 16:16-17). This name is used to designate Him some 40 times in the
Bible. (See it, for instance, in Mt 27:40; 27:43; Mk 14:61-62; Lk 22:70; Jn 5:25;
10:36; 11:4; and Mt 8:29)
C. "The First and the Last." Shown in Revelations 1:8 as indicative of the fact He is
the source and cause of all and the sustainer of all as well. (Compare with Isa 41:4
and also see Col 1:16-19).
D. "The Alpha and Omega" (Rev 1:8). "Alpha and Omega" being the first and last letters
of the Greek alphabet. Therefore He is all (and more) that can be expressed by the
joining together of the letters of the alphabet to form good words."
E. "The Beginning and the Ending" (Rev 1:8). This reminds us He is "The author and
finisher of faith" (Heb 12:2).
F. "The Holy One and the Just" (Acts 3:14). While all mere men "have sinned an come
short" (Rm 3:23), He is the Holy and Just One.
G. "The Lord." Acts 9:17 records that Ananias said to Saul, "Brother Saul, the Lord,
even Jesus, . . . . hath sent me." Hence Paul told the jailer at Phillipi, "Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
H. "Lord of all and Lord of Glory" (Acts 10:36). Peter preached "peace by Jesus Christ
(he is Lord of all)." Paul affirmed that had the princes of this world really known
Him, "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
II. By the fact that He received and deserved divine worship:
A. The Bible insists that worship is due to deity only!
1. Christ said to Satan, " . . . . thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only
shalt thou serve" (Mt 4:10).
2. Note examples of men who accepted worship and were punished for it. (See Herod in
Acts 12:20-25 and Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 4:29-33).
3. Peter refused to allow men to worship him in Acts 10:25-26, as did the angels in
Revelations 22:8-9.
4. Yet Jesus unhesitatingly accepted worship and commended men for it. In John 13:13,
He said, "Ye call me master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am." (Look up Mt
14:33; Lk 24:52; Jn 4:10; 20:27-29) He was either God or a tremendous liar!
B. God the Father instructed "all the angels of God to worship" Christ (Heb 1:6).
III. By the divine offices that are assigned to Him:
A. He is the Creator of the universe (Jn 1:3; Heb 1:10; Col 1:16).
B. He is the Preserver of all things. In Hebrews 1:3, He is seen to "uphold all things
by the word of his power."
C. He is the Forgiver of sins (Mk 2:5, 10-11). " . . . . The Son of man hath power on
earth to forgive sins."
D. He will bestow immortal life at His return (Phil 3:21). "Who shall change our vile
body, that it may be fashioned like his glorious body." He promised this in John
5:28-29 and John 6:39-40 and 44.
E. He is called "The judge of the quick (living) and the dead" at His appearing and
Kingdom in II Timothy 4:1.
F. He is "the giver of eternal life" according to John 17:2 and John 10:28.
IV. By His Character and Holiness:
A. He was absolutely without defilement of any sort. I John 3:5 says, "in him is no
sin." Hebrews 4:14-15 states that He was "without sin." II Corinthians 5:21 adds He
"knew no sin."
B. Thus is He seen to be immaculately pure as in I John 3:3, " . . . . even as he is
pure." I John 1:5 assures "that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Jesus
said, "I am the light . . . . of life" (Jn 8:12).
C. Even unclean spirits bore testimony of it as in Mark 1:23-24, " . . . . thou art
the Holy One of God."
D. Likewise Judas Iscariot admitted, " . . . . I have sinned in that I have betrayed
the innocent blood" (Mt 27:3-4).
E. Pilate testified, saying, " . . . . I find in him no fault at all."
F. Pilate's wife warned him, " . . . . have nothing to do with that just man" (Mt
27:19).
G. The believing thief on the cross said, " . . . . this man hath done nothing amiss"
(Lk 23:41).
H. The Roman Centurion concluded, "this was a righteous man" (Lk 23:47). Many other
testimonies could be gathered in the Bible but this should suffice to make the point.
I. Note His attitude toward sin and righteousness in Hebrews 1:9.
J. He said, "I do always those things that please" my Father (Jn 8:29).
K. He demanded holiness in others. (See Mt 5:48; Jn 5:14; 8:11)
L. He gave Himself to save men from sin's penalty (II Cor 1:9-10; I Pet 2:24).
V. By the love He manifested:
A. He loved the Father (Jn 14:31).
B. He loved the church (Eph 5:25).
C. He loved me (Gal 2:20).
D. He loved His own (Jn 13:1). This primarily speaks of Israel. Compare this text with
John 1:11. "He came unto his own" etc. Who would affirm this to be the saved? Think
about it. Why does it say in John 13:1 "to the end" or "to the death?" Did His love
for the saved end at the cross? I think not! But His current affection for Israel,
illustrated by the kingdom He offered them but, which at Calvary He took from them and
gave to His church (His little flock), did end at the cross. Now "He loves the
church." (Compare Mt 21:43 with Lk 12:32).
E. He also loves obedience in His children (Jn 14:21).
F. Unlike any other, He loved His enemies. Luke 23:34 reveals His prayer on the cross,
"Father, forgive them . . . ." Romans 5:6-8 testifies that "God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
In our next study, we will seek to understand something of "The Divine Work of Jesus
Christ." JM
I. By the divine names and titles assigned Him in the Word:
A. "God." In Hebrews 1:8, the Father called Christ "God."
(See also John 20:28 where Thomas cried, "My Lord, and my God.") In Titus 2:13, all
believers are to be found "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing
of the great God . . . . our Saviour Jesus Christ."
B. "The Son of God." Peter astutely observed, "thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God" (Mt 16:16-17). This name is used to designate Him some 40 times in the
Bible. (See it, for instance, in Mt 27:40; 27:43; Mk 14:61-62; Lk 22:70; Jn 5:25;
10:36; 11:4; and Mt 8:29)
C. "The First and the Last." Shown in Revelations 1:8 as indicative of the fact He is
the source and cause of all and the sustainer of all as well. (Compare with Isa 41:4
and also see Col 1:16-19).
D. "The Alpha and Omega" (Rev 1:8). "Alpha and Omega" being the first and last letters
of the Greek alphabet. Therefore He is all (and more) that can be expressed by the
joining together of the letters of the alphabet to form good words."
E. "The Beginning and the Ending" (Rev 1:8). This reminds us He is "The author and
finisher of faith" (Heb 12:2).
F. "The Holy One and the Just" (Acts 3:14). While all mere men "have sinned an come
short" (Rm 3:23), He is the Holy and Just One.
G. "The Lord." Acts 9:17 records that Ananias said to Saul, "Brother Saul, the Lord,
even Jesus, . . . . hath sent me." Hence Paul told the jailer at Phillipi, "Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
H. "Lord of all and Lord of Glory" (Acts 10:36). Peter preached "peace by Jesus Christ
(he is Lord of all)." Paul affirmed that had the princes of this world really known
Him, "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
II. By the fact that He received and deserved divine worship:
A. The Bible insists that worship is due to deity only!
1. Christ said to Satan, " . . . . thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only
shalt thou serve" (Mt 4:10).
2. Note examples of men who accepted worship and were punished for it. (See Herod in
Acts 12:20-25 and Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 4:29-33).
3. Peter refused to allow men to worship him in Acts 10:25-26, as did the angels in
Revelations 22:8-9.
4. Yet Jesus unhesitatingly accepted worship and commended men for it. In John 13:13,
He said, "Ye call me master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am." (Look up Mt
14:33; Lk 24:52; Jn 4:10; 20:27-29) He was either God or a tremendous liar!
B. God the Father instructed "all the angels of God to worship" Christ (Heb 1:6).
III. By the divine offices that are assigned to Him:
A. He is the Creator of the universe (Jn 1:3; Heb 1:10; Col 1:16).
B. He is the Preserver of all things. In Hebrews 1:3, He is seen to "uphold all things
by the word of his power."
C. He is the Forgiver of sins (Mk 2:5, 10-11). " . . . . The Son of man hath power on
earth to forgive sins."
D. He will bestow immortal life at His return (Phil 3:21). "Who shall change our vile
body, that it may be fashioned like his glorious body." He promised this in John
5:28-29 and John 6:39-40 and 44.
E. He is called "The judge of the quick (living) and the dead" at His appearing and
Kingdom in II Timothy 4:1.
F. He is "the giver of eternal life" according to John 17:2 and John 10:28.
IV. By His Character and Holiness:
A. He was absolutely without defilement of any sort. I John 3:5 says, "in him is no
sin." Hebrews 4:14-15 states that He was "without sin." II Corinthians 5:21 adds He
"knew no sin."
B. Thus is He seen to be immaculately pure as in I John 3:3, " . . . . even as he is
pure." I John 1:5 assures "that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Jesus
said, "I am the light . . . . of life" (Jn 8:12).
C. Even unclean spirits bore testimony of it as in Mark 1:23-24, " . . . . thou art
the Holy One of God."
D. Likewise Judas Iscariot admitted, " . . . . I have sinned in that I have betrayed
the innocent blood" (Mt 27:3-4).
E. Pilate testified, saying, " . . . . I find in him no fault at all."
F. Pilate's wife warned him, " . . . . have nothing to do with that just man" (Mt
27:19).
G. The believing thief on the cross said, " . . . . this man hath done nothing amiss"
(Lk 23:41).
H. The Roman Centurion concluded, "this was a righteous man" (Lk 23:47). Many other
testimonies could be gathered in the Bible but this should suffice to make the point.
I. Note His attitude toward sin and righteousness in Hebrews 1:9.
J. He said, "I do always those things that please" my Father (Jn 8:29).
K. He demanded holiness in others. (See Mt 5:48; Jn 5:14; 8:11)
L. He gave Himself to save men from sin's penalty (II Cor 1:9-10; I Pet 2:24).
V. By the love He manifested:
A. He loved the Father (Jn 14:31).
B. He loved the church (Eph 5:25).
C. He loved me (Gal 2:20).
D. He loved His own (Jn 13:1). This primarily speaks of Israel. Compare this text with
John 1:11. "He came unto his own" etc. Who would affirm this to be the saved? Think
about it. Why does it say in John 13:1 "to the end" or "to the death?" Did His love
for the saved end at the cross? I think not! But His current affection for Israel,
illustrated by the kingdom He offered them but, which at Calvary He took from them and
gave to His church (His little flock), did end at the cross. Now "He loves the
church." (Compare Mt 21:43 with Lk 12:32).
E. He also loves obedience in His children (Jn 14:21).
F. Unlike any other, He loved His enemies. Luke 23:34 reveals His prayer on the cross,
"Father, forgive them . . . ." Romans 5:6-8 testifies that "God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
In our next study, we will seek to understand something of "The Divine Work of Jesus
Christ." JM
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| "Christology -- Part II" "The Absolute Deity of Jesus Christ" CHAPTER 6 By John C. Morgan |