Deity of Christ revised - with texts
Deity of Christ
(Original outline from late 1970’s as retyped from Randy Horn’s notes)
* = referred to elsewhere in outline
# = new material
- #Why is this important?
a. Our sins have separated us from a just and holy God
b. Our salvation depends on someone reconciling us to God
c. We can’t do it ourselves, since to do so would require a salvation by works (Eph 2:8,9)
d. Requires a go-between, a “mediator”, to bridge the gap
i. Mediator must be able to relate to both parties
1. Must be divine, so that his sacrifice would have sufficient value for all of mankind. Otherwise even a perfect sacrifice would only atone for one person
2. Must be human, so that he could represent us before God
ii. Jesus is our mediator - 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
iii. So Jesus must be both God and man in order to fulfill his role in our salvation
e. Deity of Christ therefore is a cornerstone of the Christian faith
f. Without it the whole structure of our belief system falls apart
g. Those who reject deity of Christ cannot therefore be truly Christian
- #Describe how this study came about
a. Leon & Sharon –
i. Trip to Arkansas
ii. Meeting with Don Welborn ahead of time
b. Preparing this afterwards, then revising it for this set of lessons
- Brief outline of the study
a. One God (5 subheadings)
b. Names of God that are shared with Jesus (5 subheadings, several quite long)
c. Worship to God that is shared with Jesus (5 subheadings, 2 long)
d. Characteristics of God shared with Jesus (12 subheadings)
e. Jesus claims equality with the Father (6 subheadings but short)
- There is only one God
a. 3 monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam
i. All agree there is only one God
ii. Christianity is unique in assigning him 3 different characteristics or personalities, all present from eternity past and coexisting together
1. Is this reasonable? Example of water coexisting in 3 physical forms at the proper temperature and air pressure while still having the same chemical substance
2. Judaism & Islam misunderstand this, thinking we believe in 3 Gods
b. The Jewish confession of faith - Deut 6:4 – quoted by Jesus in Mk 12:29
i. Deut 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
ii. Mk 12:29 - And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
iii. Deut 4:35 - Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
iv. Deut 32:39 - See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
v. Is 45:5,6 - I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
vi. Is 45:22 - Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
c. No other gods have been created either before or after Jehovah
i. Is 43:10 - Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
ii. Is 44:6,8 - Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
d. Thus if Jesus is God, he cannot be a lesser god and cannot be created
e. If there is only one God, and Jesus shares in that deity, then either Jesus is Jehovah God or he is no God at all.
i. Things equal to the same thing are equal to each other!
ii. Verses that refer to Satan, men, money etc as gods are doing so because men view them that way, not because they really are.
- Names Christ takes that belong only to God – there are a number of these; if Christ is not truly God then he is blaspheming by taking these for himself.
a. The mighty God
i. Verses referring to the Father by this name
1. Ex 3:6 – Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
2. Ps 50:1 - The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
3. Is 10:21 - The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
4. Jer 32:18 - Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
ii. Verses referring to the Son by this name
1. Is 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
iii. Note that Scripture does not distinguish by calling one “almighty” and the other just “mighty”.
b. The Everlasting Father – note that Jesus is called this in Is 9:6. This name belongs to Jehovah (God the Father) alone.
c. Jehovah God
i. Verses referring to the Father this way
1. Is 42:8 – I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
2. Isaiah 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
3. He will not share this name with anyone else!
ii. Verses referring to the Son this way
1. *Is 7:14 – the literal meaning of the word “Immanuel” is “god with us”. No mere man could be called God – and if there is only one God, Jesus must be the human manifestation of that God. This prophecy is fulfilled in Mt 1:23, where the meaning of Immanuel is given.
a. Is 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
b. Mt 1:23 - Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
c. Lk 1:32 - He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
d. Jn 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
2. Jn 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
a. Confirms that Jesus is eternal and was not created. Compare Gen 1:1. Are there 2 “in the beginnings”? There must be if Christ was created
b. If the correct rendering is “a god”, then how is this reconciled with *Is 43:10? There cannot be more than one God, and no gods were created after Jehovah.
c. JW’s translate this verse as “a god”. This is a violation of the laws of Greek grammar. “A god” would be the direct object, but it is ungrammatical to attach a direct object to a passive, intransitive verb such as “was”. The only type of ending grammatically allowable would be a predicate nominative, which would refer back to the subject of the sentence, “the word”.
d. Identical greek wording to that of Jn 1:1 is translated as God in the New World Translation at Mt 5:9, 6:24: Lk 1:35, 78; Jn 1:6, 12, 13, 18; Rom 1:7, 17. The KJV may not be consistent everywhere either, but it seems that if the NWT translates this as “god” everywhere except Jn 1:1, then it should do so there too
e. Look in the Kingdom Interlinear at Jn 1:1. The interlinear translation calls the Word “god” without the article, but the NWT in the margin adds “a”. This isn’t consistent either. Also note that although in the interlinear “god” was spelled with a small “g”, all existing Greek manuscripts are written entirely in capital letters, so the distinction they make there is not valid
3. Jn 10:30-33, 39
a. Jn 10:30-33 - I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, -
b. Jesus had claimed equality with God, and the Jews therefore sought to stone him. He then explained things to them, and the answer he gave them so infuriated them that they sought again to take him (10:39). He did nothing to dissuade them from their interpretation of what he’d said, nor did he repent of it.
4. Jn 20:28 – And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
a. The only logical interpretation of this is that Thomas was talking to Jesus – in fact it says so. In other words, he calls Jesus God.
b. If Jesus is not God, then he would have had to rebuke Thomas for his blasphemy, but he didn’t do so.
c. Also it is said by some that Thomas was not addressing Jesus personally, but simply making an exclamation of joy. This also would have been blasphemy, for it is taking the name of God in vain. Jesus would have HAD to rebuke Thomas for such a sin as this, but he didn’t.
5. 1Ti 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.
6. Heb 1:8 – But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
a. Jehovah God here calls the son “God”. This verse is quoted from Ps 45:6 – this identical rendering is found in the KJV, NASB, Douay, and RSV.
b. Ps 45:6 - Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
7. Acts 20:28 – Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Note that God purchased it with His blood
8. Tit 2:13 – Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Christ is described as coming in glory with the angels of heaven, but nowhere does it say that Jehovah God would come together with Christ. Therefore both terms, “the great God” and “our Savior” must refer to Jesus
9. 1Jn 5:20 – And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. This whole verse speaks of the son of god. It is unreasonable to think that the writer would change his train of thought in midstream. Thus the “true God” must be Jesus Christ
d. “I AM”
i. Verses applying this name to Jehovah God
1. Ex 3:14 – And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. The term “I AM” unquestionably refers to Jehovah himself.
2. *Is 43:10 - Jehovah states that “I am he”
3. Is 51:12 - I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
4. Is 52:6 – Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
ii. Verses applying this same name to Jesus
1. Jn 8:58 – Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. The Pharisees understood him to be claiming divinity, for in 8:59 they took up stones to cast at him, thinking he’d committed blasphemy
2. Jn 8:24 – I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Here again he claims Jehovah’s name, and makes a dreadful promise to those who do not believe the truth so plainly revealed here
3. Jn 13:19 - Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
4. #Jn 18:5 – They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. At this claim of deity, Christ’s power was so manifest that even heathen Roman soldiers fell to the ground in worship, even if only for a moment before they seized him
e. The 1st and the Last
i. Verses that apply this title to Jehovah God
1. Is 41:4 - Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
2. *Is 44:6
3. Is 48:12 – Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
4. Rev 1:8 - I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty
5. Rev 21:6 – And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
ii. Verses which apply this same title to Jesus
1. Rev 1:17, 18 – And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
a. This can only be spoken by Jesus, for he was the only one who died and lived again.
b. Also note that John fell at his feet and worshipped him, which is lawful to be done only to God himself (will discuss this further later)
2. Rev 2:8 – And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
3. Rev 22:12 – It is best to consider ch 22 as a whole, to get the context for this verse. In 22:7 and 12 we see the words “ Behold I come quickly”. This indicates Jesus, because we know he is the one who will come, from the prophecies in the gospels and elsewhere. However, the final undeniable evidence is 22:16. Read the chapter and you will see that 10-16 form a continuous quote
f. Savior -
i. Verses applying this title to Jehovah God
1. Is 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
2. Is 45:21,22 - Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
3. 1Ti 2:3 - For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
ii. Verses applying this title to Jesus
1. Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
2. John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
3. 2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
4. Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
5. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
g. King of kings; Lord of Lords
i. Verses applying this to the Father
1. Deut 10:17 – For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
2. Psalms 136:3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
ii. Verses applying this to the Son
1. Rev 17:14 - These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
2. Rev 19:16 - And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
h. The shepherd
i. Ps 23:1 – The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. The true believer is shepherded by Jehovah
ii. Jn 10:14 – I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Here Jesus lays claim to the title of shepherd for the believers, which rightfully belongs only to God the Father.
i. #The rock (this is just a selection of verses on this subject)
i. Verses applying this title to the Father
1. Dt 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
2. 2Sa 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
3. Ps 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
4. Ps 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
ii. Verses applying this title to Jesus
1. Ro 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
2. 1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
j. Thus Christ lays claims to many titles which Scripture says belong only to the Father
i. “Scripture cannot be broken” (Jn 10:35).
ii. Therefore he must be equal to the Father, and one with him, an idea which is confirmed by Jn 10:30*.
iii. This is a oneness that is without restriction and includes all aspects of Deity – see Col 2:9 - For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
- Christ is worshiped
a. He receives worship
i. God receives worship
1. Ex 20:3 – Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Reaffirms the assertion that there is only one God, and states that he is the only one we should worship
2. Dt 6:13 - Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
3. Dt 10:20 - Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
4. Neh 9:6 - Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
5. All these indicate that Jehovah is the one to be worshiped and served
ii. Jesus receives worship – recounted in all 4 gospels
1. Mt 4:10 – Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. The words of Christ also bear witness to the fact that only Jehovah is to be worshiped. He knew what God’s word says about worship
2. Mt 8:2 - And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3. Mt 9:18 - While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
4. Mt 14:33 - Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
5. Mt 15:25 - Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
6. Mt 28:9 - And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
7. Mt 28:17 - And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
8. Mark 5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
9. Lk 24:52 - And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
10. John 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
11. Heb 1:6 – And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
a. God himself commands his creatures to worship Jesus, and the Son accepts this worship without giving rebuke.
b. For God to command his creatures to worship Jesus would be commanding them to commit blasphemy if Jesus is not God.
iii. The same Greek word is used for “worship” in all these places
iv. Not once did he rebuke anyone for worshiping him. He accepted worship due only ot God, knowing what the law says about that
b. Both the Father and the Son receive the same worship
i. Important because JW’s & Catholics among others distinguish different types of worship
1. JW’s say the worship of Jesus is different than God
2. Catholics say the worship they give Mary is different
ii. Jn 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
iii. Rev 1:5,6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
iv. Rev 4:10, 11 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
v. Rev 5:11, 12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
c. Christ is prayed to – Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
d. Christ is served the same as the Father
i. 2Ki 17:35 With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
ii. Col 3:24 - Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
e. Christ is glorified
i. Jehovah reserves his glory to himself alone
1. *Is 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
2. Is 48:11– For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
ii. Yet that same glory is manifest in Jesus
1. #Jn 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
2. Jn 17:5 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
- Christ has characteristics and powers belonging only to God
a. Creator
i. The Father as creator
1. *Neh 9:6
2. Is 42:5 - Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
3. Is 44:24 –Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; Note especially that Jehovah made the heavens and earth by himself
4. Jer 51:15 - He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
5. Amos 4:13 – For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
ii. Jesus as creator
1. Jn 1:3 - All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
2. Jn 1:10 - He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
3. Eph 3:9 - And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
4. Col 1:16,17 – For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
5. #Heb 1:10 – identifies Christ as creator; quoted from Ps 102:25 which indicates Jehovah as creator
a. Heb 1:10 - And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
b. Ps 102:25 - Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
6. *Rev 4:11 – We owe Jesus, as our creator (and our God), all worship and honor
b. Lord of the elements
i. God the Father as Lord of the elements
1. Ps 89:8,9 - O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? 9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
2. Ps 93:4 - The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
3. #Jer 5:22 - Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
ii. Jesus as Lord of the elements
1. Mt 8:23-26 - And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
2. Mt 14:19 - And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
3. Jn 2:9 - When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
c. Redeemer
i. The Father as redeemer
1. Ps 49:6-7 – They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: no man has enough wealth to be able to redeem himself or anyone else
2. *Is 43:11 - I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
3. Is 43:25 – I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
ii. Jesus as redeemer
1. Mk 2:5-7 - When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
2. Lk 2:11 - For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
3. #Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
4. Col 1:14 – In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
d. Eternal
i. The Father as eternal
1. #Deuteronomy 32:40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
2. #Job 36:26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
3. #Psalms 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
4. #Psalms 145:13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
ii. The Son as eternal
1. Mic 5:2 – But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
2. Jn 1:2 – The same was in the beginning with God.
3. #Col 1:17 - And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
4. #1Ti 6:14-16- That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
5. Heb 13:9 – Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever
e. All knowing (omniscience)
i. The Father knows all
1. 1Ki 8:39 - Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)
2. #Ps 147:5 - great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
ii. The Son knows all
1. Mt 9:4 - And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
2. Mt 16:7,8 - And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
3. Lk 5:22 - But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
4. Jn 2:24,25 - But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
5. Jn 13:19 - Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
6. Jn 21:17 - He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
7. Heb 4:13 - Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
8. 1Jo 3:20 - For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
f. Omnipresence
i. A characteristic of the Father
1. #Psalms 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
2. #Proverbs 15:3 ¶ The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
ii. A characteristic of the Son
1. Mt 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
2. Mt 28:20 – Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
g. Omnipotence
i. A characteristic of the Father
1. #Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
2. #Psalms 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
3. #Psalms 135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
ii. A characteristic of the Son
1. Jn 3:35 - The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
2. Jn 5:21 - For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
3. Jn 17:2 - As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
4. Eph 1:22 - And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
iii. Christ has the same powers in this world (and heaven) that God does
h. Christ can raise the dead
i. The father raises the dead –
1. Romans 4:17 ¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
ii. The Son raises the dead
1. *Jn 5:21- For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
2. Jn 6:40,54 - And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
3. Jn 11:43,44 - And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
4. Lk 7:11-16 – And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
a. 2 points from this passage
i. Christ raised someone from the dead
ii. Those who saw recognized him as God, and here again he did not rebuke them for what would appear to be blasphemy were he not God. Many evidences in scripture show that Jesus Christ is God made man. There are others which seem to contradict this view but when fully examined this is not the case at all
iii. Jn 5:19-30 – Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
1. This does not make him human, because what man can truthfully say that he hasn’t done things “of himself” (i.e. apart from God). Christ could do nothing apart from God because he was and is God
iv. Jn 14:28 – Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
1. when he spoke this, he was on earth, subject to the abuse of men, and in this sense his Father was greater because he was not subject to this. But this held true only while he was on earth, while his divine attributes were held in abeyance – but he did have divine attributes, manifesting them on many occasions. Conclusion – the father was greater in position but not in person
v. Col 1:15 – Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
1. “firstborn” is used in 2 senses in scripture
a. 1st in time – i.e. Jesus was the 1st-born child of Mary – Mt 1:25 - And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
b. 1st in rank – e.g. David was the last son of Jesse, but in Ps 89:27 - Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
2. God promises to make him the firstborn. Also Esau was the 1st born son of Isaac in time, but Jacob became the 1st born in position and in line of inheritance when Esau sold him the birthright – Gen 25:33 - And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
vi. Rev 3:14 – And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
1. the word “beginning” can also mean he was the initiator, or source, of creation
i. #Claims ownership of property belonging to God
i. Mt 13:41- The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
ii. says the angels belong to him
j. #Able to forgive sins
i. Mk 2:5 - When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
k. #Lord of the Sabbath
i. Mt 12:8 - For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
l. #Judges sin
i. Jn 5:22-23 - or the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
- Christ claims equality with the Father
a. Mt 28:18 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (He is equal to the Father in power)
b. Jn 16:15 – All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (He is equal in possessions)
c. *Jo 10:30 – no reservations are attached to this claim. The Jews knew what he meant, and tried to stone him for it
d. Jn 5:18 – Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (Here scripture spells out the logical consequence of Jesus being the Son of God, i.e. that he is equal to the Father. Here again the Jews realized the implications of his claim (that if not true it was blasphemy) and tried to stone him for it)
e. *Col 2:9 – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. The New World Translation renders this incorrectly, and in violation of Greek rules of grammar; see the Emphatic Diaglott for a more correct translation. This verse indicates that Christ is unquestionably God, as he has all the characteristics of God and is thus equal to him
f. Phil 2:6 – Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: the NWT and Kingdom Interlinear contradict each other on the translation of this verse, with the Interlinear agreeing with the KJV. Christ was not being presumptuous to claim equality with God. Numerous scriptures confirm that Christ is equal with God, making him at least “a god”. But there is only one God, so Christ = the Father. There is no logical way around it, whether we understand it or not.
- Conclusions
a. Numerous scriptures show in various different ways the full deity of Jesus Christ
b. Numerous other scriptures show the full humanity of Jesus Christ
c. Because he had both natures he was able to become our Savior as well as our Lord
d. Should inspire in us worship and gratitude that such a one would be willing to die for us