Bible Doctrines L4 Deity of Christ

Calvary Baptist Church

Sunday School Series & Teacher’s Notes

Pastoral Staff & Sunday School Teachers

Chapters 7-8 (pp.52-59)

Key Objectives:

1. To explain what the Bible says about the eternality of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

2. To explain what the Bible says about the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

3. To be able to respond to some of the erroneous views about Jesus Christ

4. To explain what the Bible says about the incarnation of Jesus Christ as a human being

5. To explain some of the reasons Jesus Christ came as a human being

God the Son: His Deity, Eternity, and Incarnation

Memory Verse:

For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)

For in Him [in Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

There are those who teach that Jesus Christ is not both God and man. They insist that He must be one or the other, but cannot be both. How would you answer someone who asked you why you believe that Jesus is both God and man?

“The Scriptures present the Lord Jesus Christ as being at the same time perfectly human and perfectly divine. Because of this, He was both like and unlike other man.”[i]

The Humanity of Jesus Christ

1 Timothy 3:16 teaches that “God was manifest in the flesh.”

But there are those who insist that, because Jesus was a man, then Jesus was not God – at least not in the same sense that God the Father is fully God.

Outline for the Lesson

The Eternity and Deity of the Son of God

Direct Statements of the Eternity and Deity of the Son of God

Implicit Statements about the Eternity and Deity of the Son of God

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ

“Incarnation” refers to becoming flesh. One professor called it “the in-flesh-ment.”

Direct Statements of the Incarnation

Implicit Statements of the Incarnation

The following page could be printed for your class. Please see appendix for teacher discussion notes.

Here are a few illustrations and applications to consider with the class. Perhaps you will want to form some discussion groups to consider how to use the respective Scriptures to answer the question posed by the illustration.

The Muslim

Illustration: A Muslim man who was incarcerated in a jail in North Carolina once said this to one of our pastors: “Oh, here he is. The man who believes in the triple god: God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!” How would you use the Scriptures to answer the charge that this man was making?

Discussion group: How would you answer this man using Zechariah 13:7 (and Matthew 26:31)? And using John 10:30-33?

Rescue Mission Counseling

Illustration: After an evening service in a rescue mission meeting in South Carolina, a man came forward to trust Christ. While one of our pastors was dealing with him, he objected to the understanding that Jesus Christ is God. He immediately turned to one of the teenagers present and said, “Do you believe that Jesus is God?” When the young man responded, “Yes!” the first man asked the teenager, “Can you show me that in your Bible?” If you were that teen young man, could you answer that question?

Discussion group: How would you answer this using Hebrews 1:8? Colossians 2:9?

Influence from Jehovah’s Witnesses

Illustration: Here in town, a lady said to one of our pastors, “Jesus Christ is a god, but not THE God. Jesus was created. He did not exist for all eternity.” How would you respond to this claim, using your Bible?

Discussion group: How would you answer this statement using Micah 5:2? How would you answer this question using Isaiah 43:10-11?

Mormons

Illustration: In a meeting with Mormons, one of our pastors was confronted with this teaching about Jesus: “As man now is, God once was. As God now is, man may be.”[ii] The Mormon missionaries insisted that Jesus had become a god. How would you answer this teaching, using your Bible?

Discussion group: Who originally taught part of this? (Genesis 3:5) How would you use Isaiah 44:6 to answer this?

The Eternity and Deity of the Son of God

Direct Statements of the Eternity and Deity of the Son of God

“The eternity and deity of Jesus Christ are asserted in an extensive body of Scripture . . [This] affirms His infinite person and His eternal existence coequal with the other persons of the Godhead.”

o John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” This is a reference to the eternity of the Word (the Lord Jesus Christ, John 1:14). It is also a reference to His identity as the Creator (Genesis 1:1).

o Micah 5:2 speaks of His eternality and therefore His “pre-existence” before His birth in Bethlehem.

o Isaiah 7:14 calls Him “Immanuel” which means “God with us.”

o In John 8:58, when Jesus said “Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am” (a reference to Exodus 3:14). The Jews who were present clearly understood that Jesus was claiming to be God for, according to John 8:59, they took up stones to stone Him for what they considered to be blasphemy.

Implicit Statements of the Eternity and Deity of the Son of God

W – the Work of Creation is ascribe to Him. (Colossians 1:16)

Colossians 1:16 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

A – the Angel of the Lord (“Christophanies” or pre-existent appearances of Christ upon the earth) Genesis 31:11-13 (Note the words “Angel of God” and “I am the God.” See Genesis 48:15-16, “the Angel which redeemed me from all evil.”

Genesis 31:11–13 ESV

Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’ ”

Genesis 48:15–16 ESV

And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

T – Titles of the Lord Jesus Christ “The Son of God,” “The First and the Last,” “the Lord,” “The Lord of Glory,” “The Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

E – Eternity and “Pre-existence” of the Almighty Son of God: Revelation 1:8, “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.” Proverbs 30: “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?”

Revelation 1:8 ESV

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

R – Received worship as God. John 20:28, Matthew 28:17, Hebrews 1:8

John 20:28 ESV

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

S – Stephen’s vision: Acts 7:55-58 In his final sermon as his Jewish persecutors rushed toward him, here is the testimony of Stephen: “55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.” His persecutors were so enraged that they stoned him. Throughout his ministry, Jesus had proclaimed his unity with the Father; Stephen’s vision confirmed that.

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ

“Incarnation” refers to becoming flesh. One professor called it “the in-flesh-ment.”

Direct Statements of the Incarnation

o As mentioned earlier in 1 Timothy 3:16, the Bible teaches that “God was manifest in the flesh.”

o The conception in a virgin, Luke 1:35

o This is why Isaiah 9:6 uses the phrase, “’For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.’ The distinction is obvious between a child who was born and the Son who was given.”

o In fact, Galatians 4:4-5 expresses it this way: “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

o John 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.” Note John’s reference to the eternal God made flesh in 1 John 1:1-2 “1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;).”

Implicit Statements of the Incarnation

o Mark 9:36, 10:16 Jesus took the children in His arms

o Luke 23:33 “They crucified Him”

o The resurrected Jesus ate food. Luke 24:40-43 “40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them.”

Why? Reasons for the Incarnation of Jesus Christ

o The Lamb to be slain for sins

In Revelation 13:8, Jesus was identified as the Lamb. “8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” His incarnation allowed Him to be the Lamb who was slain for the sins of mankind.

o To deliver men from the power of the devil by dealing with sins and to become our faithful High Priest

But why would God become a man? Hebrews 2:14-17 tells us

“14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

God and Man: A Study in Contrast

“The Bible presents many contrasts, but none more striking than that Christ in His person should be at the same time very God and very man. Illustrations of these contrasts from Scripture are many: He was weary (John 4:6), yet He called the weary to Himself for rest (Matt. 11:28). He was hungry (Matt. 4:2), yet He was “the bread of life” (John 6:35). He was thirsty (John 19:28), yet He was the water of life (John 7:37). He was in agony (Luke 22:44), yet He healed all manner of disease and soothed every pain. He “grew, and waxed strong in spirit” (Luke 2:40), yet He was from all eternity (John 8:58). He was tempted (Matt. 4:1), yet He, as God, could not be made to sin. He became self-limited in knowledge (Luke 2:52), yet He was the wisdom of God. He said (with reference to His humiliation, being made for a little time lower than the angels—Heb. 2:6-7): “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28), yet also “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9) and “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). He prayed (Luke 6:12), yet He answered prayer (Acts 10:31). He wept at the tomb (John 11:35), yet He called the dead to arise (John 11:43). He asked, “Whom do men say that I the son of man am?” (Matt. 16:13), yet He “needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” (John 2:25). He said, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34), yet it was the very God to whom He cried who was at that moment “in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Cor. 5:19). He died, yet He is eternal life. He was God’s ideal man, and man’s ideal God.”[iii]

Appendix notes for Teachers

ANSWERS for the errors sheet above

The Unity of the Persons of God: Answering the Muslim charge of polytheism

Zechariah 13:7 “7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” (This is a remarkable verse portraying the MAN who would be slain who is in UNION with God. Jesus applied this to Himself in Matthew 26:31.

John 10:30-33 Jesus said, “30 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.”

The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was saying: that He claimed to be God. This is why they took up stones to stone Him.

Rescue Mission Counseling: Jesus Christ was worshipped as God by God the Father!

Hebrews 1:8 (In the context of Hebrews 1:5, God the Father is speaking and says) “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.”

Colossians 2:9 “For in Him [in Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

Influence of Jehovah’s Witnesses: Is Jesus eternal? Was He created?

Micah 5:2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, [meaning “Bethlehem the fruitful”] 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.” (The Hebrew word [olam] means “everlasting or eternity.”

Isaiah 43:10-11

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.

11 I, even I, am the Lord;

And beside me there is no savior.

This verse answers the false teaching that a god [God] was formed before or after God. Verse 11 makes clear that this is speaking about God our Savior.

Mormons: Man became God and many others will become God

Isaiah 44:6 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.

[i] Unless otherwise noted, all quotes are from “Major Bible Themes” by Lewis Sperry Chafer and John F. Walvoord. Zondervan Publishing.

[ii] For verification about the accuracy of this statement, see https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1982/02/i-have-a-question/is-president-snows-statement-as-man-now-is-god-once-was-as-god-now-is-man-may-be-accepted-as-official-doctrine?lang=eng

[iii] Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Major Bible Themes (p. 57). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.