01.01.01 - Jesus Christ is truly Divine

I. The Person of Jesus Christ

1. Jesus Christ is truly Divine: Because our Lord had to become a true human being in order to die in our place, His genuine and undiminished deity has, as a consequence, sometimes been falsely and heretically denied. But this lack of faith on the part of some does not change the fact that Jesus is indeed God as well as man. The ultimate means of refutation for all heresies and heretics who would deny the divinity of Christ is, as always, the Bible. For any impartial observer is forced to admit that regardless of the opinions of those who think otherwise, scripture loudly proclaims the deity of Christ, so that to deny the deity of Christ is to ipso facto contradict the Bible: a. As God, Jesus is explicitly called God (cf. Isaiah 40:2; Romans 1:4; Matthew 22:41-46; Matthew 28:19; Luke 1:35; Luke 5:20-21; John 1:1-18; John 5:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 1:15-20; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3): For a child is born to us, and a Son is given to us. Dominion shall rest on his shoulder, and His name will be called “He whose counsel is wondrous”, “Mighty God”, “the Father of Eternity”, “the Prince of Prosperity”. Isaiah 9:6.

“Behold, the virgin will conceive and will bear a Son, and they will call His Name ‘Immanuel’, which is translated ‘God is with us’”. Matthew 1:23.

For, [if I could save them thereby] I would wish myself to be accursed [and] separated from Christ on behalf my brethren according to the flesh who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption and the [shekinah] glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the [temple] rite and the promises who are [descendants of] the patriarchs and from whom is the Christ, as far as flesh[ly descent] is concerned, the [very] One who is God over all [things], blessed forever. Amen! Romans 9:3-5.

You too should have this attitude which Christ Jesus had. Since He already existed in the very form of God, equality with God was [certainly] not something He thought He had to grasp for. Yet in spite of this [co-equal divinity He already possessed], He deprived Himself of His status and took on the form of a slave, [and was] born in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even [His] death on [the] cross [for us all]. Php 2:5-8.

[W]e who are awaiting the blessed hope, namely the glorious and majestic appearance of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13. But to the Son [the Father says], “Your throne, O God, is forever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of integrity”. Hebrews 1:8.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have been allotted a faith of equal value to ours in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us a mind-set for coming to know the truth. And we are in [the One who is] the Truth, even in [God’s] Son Jesus Christ. This One is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13 (cf. Revelation 22:16) b. As God, Jesus is worshiped as God (cf. Zechariah 14:16-17; Matthew 2:2, Matthew 2:11; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 28:9, Matthew 28:17; John 12:41 compared to Isaiah 6:3; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 14:7 compared to Colossians 1:13-16): And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it came to pass as He was blessing them that He disappeared from their [sight]. Then, having worshiped Him of their own accord, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Luke 24:50-52. And he (i. e., the blind man whose sight had been restored) said, “I believe, Lord”, and he worshiped Him. John 9:38.

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Php 2:9-11. And I looked and heard, as it were, the voice of many angels around the throne and [around] the [living] creatures and [around] the [twenty-four] elders, and their number was myriads upon myriads and thousands upon thousands, [and they were] saying in a loud voice, “The Lamb who has been slain is worthy to take the power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing and every created thing in heaven and on the earth and in the sea and everything in them.” Then I heard them saying, “To the One who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb [be] the blessing and the honor and the glory and the power for ever and ever!” And the four living creatures were saying, “Amen!”. And the [twenty-four] elders fell [down] and worshiped. Revelation 5:11-14. c. As the Creator, Jesus is God, for God created the world (Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 1:10; cf. Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:1-25):

Everything came into being through Him, (i. e., “The Word”, Jesus Christ), and without Him, nothing has come into being which has in fact come into being. John 1:3.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and [yet] the world did not recognize Him. John 1:10.

He (i. e., Jesus Christ; cf. Colossians 1:13) is the exact image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Everything in the heavens and on the earth was created by Him, things invisible as well as those visible – whether thrones, authorities, rulers or powers, everything was created through Him and for Him. And He Himself is before everything, and everything subsists in Him (cf. Hebrews 1:3). Colossians 1:15-17. But for us there is [but] one God, the Father from whom all things [have come into being] (i. e., the Father as architect of creation), and we [now live] for Him, and there is [but] one Lord, Jesus Christ through whom all things [have come into being] (i. e., the Son as agent of creation), and we [now live] through Him. 1 Corinthians 8:6. d. As One of the Trinity, Jesus is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit (John 5:18; John 17:5):

Then Jesus came over and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me, so go and make all nations my followers by baptizing them [with the Spirit] into the Person (i. e., “name”) of the Father and [into the Person] of the Son and [into the Person] of the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:18-20 a I and the Father are one. John 10:30. And now, glorify Me, Father, in your presence, with the [same] glory I possessed in your presence before the world existed. John 17:5.

There are different gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries, but the same Lord (i. e., Jesus Christ); and there are different results, but the same God who brings about all results in all cases. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of (the [Father]) God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:13.

There is one body and One Spirit – just as when you were called it was in one hope that you were called. There is One Lord (i. e., Jesus Christ), one faith, one baptism. There is One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who, though outcasts dispersed throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, were yet selected in the foreknowledge of God the Father, by means of the Holy Spirit’s consecration, for the obedience in and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you! 1 Peter 1:1-2.

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia [Minor]: Grace to you and peace from the One who is and was and is coming (i. e., the Father), and from the seven spirits (i. e., the Holy Spirit) which are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. Revelation 1:4-5 a e. Jesus is the one and only Son of God, a title which as it is used in scripture clearly demonstrates His deity (cf. Luke 9:35; Hebrews 5:5; 1 John 1:3; 1 John 5:20; 2 John 1:3):

Now once Jesus had been baptized, He immediately came up out of the water, and, behold, the heavens opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting upon Him. And, behold, a voice from heaven was saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”. Matthew 3:16-17.

While [Peter] was still speaking, behold, a cloud suffused with light enveloped them, and, behold, a voice [issued forth] from the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” Matthew 17:5 (cf. 2 Peter 1:16-21) No one has ever seen God. God the one and only [Son] – the One who has always been at the Father’s side – He has made Him known. John 1:18. For God loved the world so much that He gave [up] His one and only Son, [with the purpose] that everyone who believes in Him should not be lost [forever], but have eternal life [instead]. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not being judged, but the one who does not believe has already been judged on the grounds that he has not put his faith in the Name (i. e., the Person) of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, the One who was proclaimed among you through us, through myself and Silvanus (i. e., Silas) and Timothy, did not become “yes and no”, but He became “yes!”. For as many promises of God as there are, are “yes!” in Him (i. e., Jesus Christ). And through Him the “amen!” [is said] to God for [His] glory through us. 2 Corinthians 1:19-20. But when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those under the Law, in order that we might receive the adoption. And since you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” Galatians 4:4-6. For to which of the angels did He ever say, “You are my Son. Today I have begotten you (Psalms 2:7).” And again, “I will be a Father to Him, and He will be my Son (2 Samuel 7:14).” But when He brings back the Firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him! (Psalms 97:7 b)”. And about the angels He says, “The One who makes His angels spirits, and His servants flames of fire (Psalms 104:4).” But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is from eternity to eternity, and rod of your kingdom is the rod of uprightness. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. For this reason God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions (Psalms 45:6-7)”. And, “From the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They indeed will perish, but you remain. And they will grow old like a garment, and like a cloak you will roll them up, like a cloak, and they will [thus] be changed. But you are the same, and your years will not come to an end (Psalms 102:25-27).” And to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit down at my right hand until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet (Psalms 110:1)?” Hebrews 1:5-13. In this God’s love has been revealed in us, that He sent His only Son into the world that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atonement for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: This is what the Son of God says, the One whose eyes are like a flame of fire and whose feet are like white-hot bronze. Revelation 2:18. f. Jesus is One with God the Father:

I and the Father are one. John 10:30. And I do not ask concerning these only [Father], but also concerning all of those who believe in Me through their word, so that all [of them] may be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I also am in You, so that they also themselves may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. And I have given them the glory You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are one. John 17:20-22. g. As God, Jesus has been “face to face” with the Father since before time began or the world was created, departing from the Father’s presence and entering this world only to save us (John 6:62; John 17:24): The Word [Jesus Christ] existed at the very beginning, and there was reciprocity (i. e., “face to face” co-divinity) between the Word and God [the Father]. And the Word was God. This One both existed and enjoyed reciprocity (i. e., was “face to face”) with God from the very beginning (i. e., from before the beginning of creation). John 1:1-2. And the Word became flesh and tented among us. And we beheld His glory, a glory like that of a one and only Son from [the] Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14. No one has ever seen God. God the one and only [Son] – the One who has always been at the Father’s side (i. e., in heaven from eternity past) – He has made Him known. John 1:18. For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I have come forth from God. I came forth from [being with] the Father and have come into the world. I am leaving the world again and going back to the Father. John 16:27-28.

Jesus said these things and having lifted up His eyes to heaven said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you, just as You gave Him power over all flesh, so that everything you have given Him might have eternal life. And this is the eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and [Him] whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I have glorified You on the earth, having completed the work you have given Me to do. And now glorify Me, Father, with your own glory, [that glory] which I had in your presence before the world existed.” John 17:1-5.

What we have seen from the beginning, what we have heard and seen with our eyes, what we have observed and touched with our hands – this is about the Word of life[, Jesus Christ]. And this life appeared, and we have seen [it], and we bear witness [to it], and we proclaim to you the eternal life which was in the presence of the Father and [then] appeared to us. 1 John 1:1-2. h. As God, Jesus claims, shares, and demonstrates the divine attributes of God (Matthew 28:18; John 1:48; John 10:31-39):

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to Me shall not hunger, and the one who believes in Me shall not thirst forever”. John 6:35. And I am giving them eternal life, and they will not perish forevermore, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even if he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will surely not die forevermore.” John 11:25-26.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6. i. As God, Jesus is described as the “exact image of God” (Colossians 1:15; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4):

[Jesus] is the [very] shining forth of [the Father’s] glory, the precise image of His essence, the One who sustains the universe by His mighty Word . . . Hebrews 1:3 a j. As God, Jesus is eternal: But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, too small to be numbered among the clans of Judah, from you I will bring forth the One who is to rule over Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, even from the days of eternity. Micah 5:2.

Jesus Christ, yesterday and today the same, and unto the [end of] the ages. Hebrews 13:8. k. As the very Word of God, the embodiment of the message and truth from the Father, Jesus is God (Deuteronomy 18:18; John 8:55; John 14:10, John 14:24):

Grass withers. Flowers fade. But the Word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8. In the beginning, there was the Word. John 1:1 a For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he might instruct Him? But we possess the very mind of Christ (i. e. the Holy Spirit illuminating the scriptures which are Christ’s very thinking). 1 Corinthians 2:16 (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13) For God who said, “Let light shine forth from the darkness!”, is He who has shone forth [His light] into our hearts to illuminate our knowledge of God’s glory in the Person of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6.

God, from antiquity having communicated to our fathers in the prophets at many times and in many ways, has in these last days communicated to us in a Son, [the One] whom He has appointed heir of all things, [the One] through whom He created the universe. He is the [very] shining forth of [the Father’s] glory, the precise image of His essence, the One who sustains the universe by His mighty Word . . . Hebrews 1:1-3 a l. In accordance with the prophecies that God will judge the world, as God Jesus is the Judge, since all judgment has been handed over to Him:

I kept looking during my vision of that night, and behold – with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming up, and He approached the Ancient of Days (i. e., the Father) and they brought Him before Him.And to Him was given dominion and honor and a kingdom, so that all nations and peoples and tongues should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away, and His kingdom one which will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14.

Then Jesus came over and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." Matthew 28:18. For neither does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, in order that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father. John 5:22-23 a (cf. John 5:27)

[This examination of Romans 2:11-15 will take place] on the day when God will judge the secret things of men through Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Romans 2:16. May it never be [that God be considered unrighteous]! Otherwise, how will God judge the world? Romans 3:6. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s tribunal as it is written: “As I live”, says the Lord, “every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will praise God” [Isaiah 45:23]. So then each of us will give an account to God concerning himself. Romans 14:10-12. For we must all stand before Christ’s tribunal, so that each of us may receive recompense for what he has accomplished through this body, whether it be good or worthless. 2 Corinthians 5:10.

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Php 2:9-11. In light of all of the above, whatever anyone may say, it is nonetheless dishonest to claim that scripture at least is not altogether clear on this subject. The Bible clearly proclaims the divinity of Jesus Christ regardless of any other false representations. Indeed, it is really not too much to say that the Bible in effect breathes forth the divinity of Jesus Christ at almost every breath, and that it is only by ignoring or diminishing its testimony that one can come to any different conclusion. Thus Jesus Christ is the great divider between those who are being saved and those who are perishing (Matthew 10:32 ff; 1 John 2:22). Unless one confesses “Jesus as Lord”, which necessarily includes acknowledging His divinity and humanity, His whole person and His work on the cross, there can be no salvation (Romans 10:9). He is a true man but He is not only a man; He is also God, for “in Christ all the fullness of Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). Ultimately, no one who believes the Bible can doubt that Jesus is God, for this we even have from our Lord Himself: So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?!” And [Jesus] said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham existed, I AM” (cf. Exodus 3:14). John 8:57-58 (cf. Luke 22:70; John 8:24; John 8:28)