The Deity of Jesus Christ

In Matthew, chapter 22, the religiously liberal Sadducees and the religiously strict Pharisees (who never got along with each other) came to Jesus for the purpose of discrediting Him. But after Jesus had astonished both groups, Jesus then said to the gathered Pharisees in verse 42: "What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, (in reference to Psalms, chapter 110) How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions."

I suppose that the subject of the Deity of Jesus Christ is one of the most interesting, and most controversial subjects of the Bible. Because some religious denominations hold to the idea that Christ is not Deity, but is simply a created being, a good prophet.

Others, while religiously minded, believe that Christ was a good man, yet they say He was deceived into thinking that He was the promised Messiah. Then there are some who believe that Christ is an imposter, while some believe that He is a total myth.

But the concept that a person has of Jesus Christ, will determine the style of their life, their attitude toward the Word of God, and their obedience (or disobedience) to the Eternal God, and how they value the Gospel of Christ.

To understand and appreciate the Deity of Christ, one must first of all consider the Godhead, itself.

The term Godhead, is used three times in the New Testament, and means: divine nature, deity, or state of being God.

In 1 John 5:7 it reads, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." But the question is this: "Are these three one person, or do these three personalities or beings make-up the One God, or Godhead?"

When we go to Genesis 1: verse 1 of the Old Testament, it reads, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." The word that's translated "God" in the Hebrew is ELOHIM which is plural in form. In fact, this word ELOHIM is plural in over 2000 times in the Old Testament.

Now, as we consider these three of the One God (or one Godhead), John tells us in John chapter 1: beginning in verse 1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

This "Word" (or "Logos" in the Greek), refers to Jesus Christ, because it reads in verse 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." Also John tells us in verse 3, "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." Also, we find in Genesis 1: verse 2, that: "The Spirit of God (or Holy Spirit) moved upon the face of the waters."

Now, let's notice Genesis 1:26 for it reads, "And God said, Let us make man in our image after our likeness." The "US" AND "OUR" have reference to the plurality of the one Godhead.

...But something else is interesting. In Ecclesiastes 12:1 it reads, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." The Hebrew word for "Creator" is BARA which is plural in form.

But, another way of proving the plurality of the One Godhead is to find scripture where all three are present at the same time, but yet doing different and separate things. You see some people claim that "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit" is the same thing as YOU (one person) being "a father, a son and a brother." But in Matthew 3: beginning in verse 16 the Word of God says, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Now, Friends, be honest with me, "Does this sound like one person doing all of these things?"

Also, when Jesus gave the Great Commission, recorded in Matthew 28:19 He said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Jesus also said to the Apostles in John 14:16, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Then in verse 26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

Now, concerning the Deity of Christ, we find in the Old Testament of Isaiah 7:14 these words concerning the promised Messiah, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name "Immanuel."

The Hebrew word for "Immanuel" means: "GOD IS WITH US!" Now, the word "Jesus" means "Jehovah is salvation", or "the Savior." And the word "Christ" means, "the Anointed of God."

The purpose in proving the Deity of Jesus Christ and the miracles that He did is clearly stated by the Apostle John in chapter 20: verse 31, so "that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

You see, the cornerstone of Christianity is upheld by the Deity of Jesus Christ, and His death, burial and resurrection from the dead.

Also, the Deity of Christ is important because the salvation of mankind depends on it. Likewise the Deity of Christ is important because if He is not Deity, then He was only a man (just as some claim He was), and we are of all men most miserable(I Corinthians 15:19).

To show the closeness, unity and Deity of Christ with God the Father, Paul records in Philippians 2: beginning with verse 5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

When Jesus was on earth, He demonstrated His Deity, Power and Authority, even though He said, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me (John 6:38)."

For example, Jesus took mere water and made it the very best of wine (John 2).

* Jesus healed a sick boy who was some 20 miles away from Him (John 4).

* Jesus healed a man who had an infirmity for 38 years (John 5).

* Jesus took a boys lunch which consisted of five (5) small biscuits and two (2) fish, and fed several thousands of people (John 6).

* Jesus walked upon water (John 6: beginning with verse 16).

* Jesus healed a man who had been born blind (John 9).

* Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11)...as well as He did many other miracles, many of which are not even written in scripture (John 20:30).

Now, many good people believe that when Jesus Christ prayed to the Heavenly Father, it was just the flesh of Jesus talking to the Spirit of Jesus. However, Jesus said in His prayer in John 17: verse 5, "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." Friends, while we are free to believe whatever we want to believe, and do just about anything we want to do, yet after awhile we need to question if the things we believe and do are true and correct, or just verbal nonsense.

Since Jesus Christ is Deity, He now becomes the sacrifice for our sins. It's no wonder that John the Baptist said of Jesus Christ in John 1:29 "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me." Here John the Baptist refers to the Deity & Divine nature of Jesus Christ.

In Isaiah's Prophecy of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, he records in Isaiah 53: beginning in verse 4 "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

Because animal sacrifices were insufficient in removing the sins of mankind, we therefore read in Hebrews 10: beginning in verse 1, "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."

In Hebrews 10:5 the writer refers back to the prophecy of the Psalmist David in Psalms, chapter 40 and writes, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will O God."

Then in verse 12 it reads, "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

It's no wonder that 2 Cor. 5: verse 21 tells us WHAT Christ has done for us: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Right here the question now comes to mind, "What are we being told when the Bible says that Christ, our Creator, who left heaven and came in the flesh as the Son of God and became the Son of man, ‘sacrificed himself for our sins?’"

Well, first of all it is telling us that sin is far worse than we have ever thought or imagined! And secondly it is telling us that we are unable to save ourselves.

Today, instead of people trying to rationalize the tragedy of sin, THEN trying to justify sin, and then trying to make excuses for sins in their lives, people ought to respond to Christ in order to have their sins forgiven.

You see Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away our sins:

1. Purchases people unto God for good works (Titus chapter 2).

2. HE fashions people to be a kingdom and priests unto God (1 Peter chapter 2).

3. And HE becomes the Shepherd and Savior of God's people (John 10:11).