The Deity of Jesus Christ

."In the beginning
was the Word,
and the Word
was with God,
and the Word was God
... And the Word
was made flesh,
and dwelt among us.... "
John 1:1-3, 14

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THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST

I. Jesus Christ was more than a "good man." He is God.
Philippians 2:6
Hebrews 1:8

A. He Himself claimed to be God.
John 4:26; 8:23; 10:30; 13:13; 14:7-10

B. He accepted worship.
Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 18:26; 28:9, 17
Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 5:22, 23; John 9:38

C. He claimed the power and authority to forgive sin.
Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:7

    D. "He was God manifest in the flesh" (l Timothy 3:16), "for in
    Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily"
    (Colossians 2:9).

E. "God was in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:19), Who is "the
brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person...."
(Hebrews 1:3).

F. Jesus is therefore throughout scripture referred to as the
"image of God."
John 1:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15
Philippians 2:6

II. By the names attributed to him in scripture it can be seen that
Jesus Christ was truly God as well as man.

A. "Mighty God." Isaiah 9:6
B. The Word of God. John 1:1; Revelation 19:13, 16
C. "Immanuel," meaning "God with us." Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
D. The Almighty. Revelation 1:8
   E . The "I Am." John 8:58 with Exodus 3:14
   F. "My Lord and my God!"   John 20:28
G. The "Alpha and Omega" (first and last).
   Isaiah 44:6; 48:12; Revelation 1:8, 11, 17; 2:8; 21:6; 22:13
H. Son of God. Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; 1 John 4:15

III. Jesus Christ possessed all the attributes of God.

A. He was (is) omniscient (all-knowing).
John 4:25, 26, 29; 6:64; 13:11; 19:28; 21:17

1. He knew their thoughts.
Matthew 9:4; 12:25; 22:18; Mark 2:8; 12:15
Luke 5:22; 6:8; 9:47; 11:17
John 2:24, 25; 5:42; 6:6; 16:19, 30; Acts 1:24

2. He even foretold His own death by crucifixion.
Matthew 16:21; 17:22, 23; 20:18, 19
John 2:19, 21, 22; 12:23, 24, 32-33

B. He is omnipresent (everywhere).
Matthew 18:20; 28:20; Ephesians 1:23

C. He is omnipotent (all-powerful).
Daniel 7:13, 14; Matthew 28:18
John 3:31, 35; 17:2; 1 Peter 3:22

D. He is eternal.
1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16; Revelation 1:4, 5

1. Scripture claims that Christ was pre-existent to the
creation of the world, that He was present with the
Father from the beginning of time.
Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7 ("... us ... our ... our ...")
Proverbs 8:22-36; Isaiah 48:12, 16; Micah 5:2
John 1:1-3, 10; 3:13; 6:62; 17:5, 24; 8:35, 58
1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 3:9; Philippians 2:5
Colossians 1:15-19
Romans 11:36; Hebrews 1:2; Revelation 3:14

2. Jesus is "the first and the last" (Isaiah 44:6; 48:12;
Revelation 1:11, 17), the "Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end" (Revelation 1:8, 11; 2:8;
21:6; 22:13).

E. He is unchanging.
   Hebrews 13:8
                         John 8:58; 18:6 with Exodus 3:14 ("I AM")
   Revelation 1:17, 18 ("the Living One")

IV. Some claim that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is proof that
He could not have been God. What evidence is given in scripture
to refute this argument?

A. Jesus' death on the cross was not due to failure or weakness
on His part. It was entirely voluntary.
Matthew 26:39, 42; Luke 22:42; John 10:17, 18
Philippians 2:5-9

B. It was the will of God that He suffer and die.
Isaiah 53:10 "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him..."

C. He even foretold His own death by crucifixion.
Matthew 20:18, 19; 16:21; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34
John 2:19, 21, 22; 12:23, 24, 32, 33

D. He said that He had the power to lay down His life and had
power to take it back again.
John 10:17, 18

E. It was not necessary for Him to be defended, He said, for He
could have called upon the Father to send 10,000 legions of
angels for His protection.
Matthew 26:50-54

F. He overcame death by rising again. The resurrection alone
should be sufficient evidence of His divinity. (See Section
VI-E).

V. Why was it necessary that He should become a man and die?

A. "... that through death He might destroy him that had the
power of death, that is, the devil."
Hebrews 2:14

B. To "deliver them who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage."
Hebrews 2:15

C. "... that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God ... in that He Himself hath suffered being
tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted."
Hebrews 2:17, 18; 4:14-16

D. "... to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."
Hebrews 2:17

VI. The specific details of His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection, all in fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic prophecy, prove the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A. His birth.

1. The virgin birth.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Isaiah 7:14
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 1:23, 24
Luke 1:27, 31, 34, 35

2. Birthplace: Bethlehem.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Micah 5:2
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 2:1, 6

3. Date of birth.
Old Testament prophecy: Daniel 9:24

4. The genealogy of Jesus Christ.
a. Of Abraham's seed.
  (1) Old Testament prophecy: Genesis 12:2, 3; 22:18
  (2) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 1:1;
        Galatians 3:16; Hebrews 2:16

b. Descendant of Isaac.
(1) Old Testament prophecy: Genesis 21:12
(2) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 1:2; Luke 3:23, 24

c. Descendant of Jacob.
   (1)   Old Testament prophecy: Genesis 35:10-12 Numbers 24:17
  (2) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 1:2;
          Luke 1:33; 3:23, 24

d. Of the tribe of Judah.
     (1) Old Testament prophecy: Genesis 49:10
     (2) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 1:3;
        Luke 3:33; Revelation 5:5

e. Descendant of Jesse.
(1) Old Testament prophecy: Isaiah 11:1, 10
(2) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:23, 32

f. Davidic lineage.
     (1) Old Testament prophecy: 2 Samuel 7:12-14 Jeremiah 23:5
     (2) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 1:1; 9:27; 15:22; etc.
            Acts 13:22, 23 Revelation 5:5; 22:16

5. The flight into Egypt.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Hosea 11:1
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 2:14, 15

B. His life.

Jesus alone lived a sinless, perfect life, fully
surrendered to the Father.
   John 8:29; 14:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21
   Hebrews 4:15; 7:26; 9:14; 10:7
      1 Peter 2:22; 1:19; 1 John 3:5

C. His ministry.

1. His manner of teaching was simplistic. He spoke in parables.

a. Old Testament prophecy: Psalms 49:1-4; 78:1, 2
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 13:34, 35; John 16:25

2. He spoke with authority.
Matthew 7:28, 29; Luke 4:32; John 7:46

3. His works, the wonders He performed while here
on earth, prove that Jesus Christ was more than a man.
Matthew 4:23, 24; 11:3-5; Mark 1:34
John 9:32, 33; 10:37, 38; 21:25

D. His death.

1. Betrayal of a friend.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Psalms 41:9
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:21-23; Mark 14:10

2. Forsaken by disciples.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Zechariah 13:7
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:31, 32

3. Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Zechariah 11:12
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:15

4. Potter's field bought with money.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Zechariah 11:13
b. New Testament fulfillment. Matthew 27:1-8

5. Falsely accused by testimonies of many witnesses.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Psalms 35:11
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:59, 60

6. Dumb before His captors.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Isaiah 53:7
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:62, 63; 27:12, 14

7. Scourged.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Isaiah 50:6
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:67; 27:26

8. Crucified.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Psalms 22:16
b. New Testament fulfillment: Mark 15:24

9. With evildoers.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Isaiah 53:12
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:38; John 19:18

10. His words while dying.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Psalms 22:1
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:46

11. Vinegar and gall.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Psalms 22:15; 69:21
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:34, 48; John 19:28

12. Scorned by men.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Psalms 22:6-8
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:39-44

13. Wounded in hands and side.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Zechariah 12:10; 13:6
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:35; John 19:34

14. None of His bones broken.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Psalms 34:20
b. New Testament fulfillment: John 19:32, 33, 36

15. Lots cast for His clothes.
a. Old Testament prophecy: Psalms 22:18
b. New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:24

E. His resurrection.

1. Prophesied: Psalms 16:10 (Acts 2:27; 13:35-37);
Matthew 16:21 (Mark 8:31)
Matthew 12:38-40; 17:9, 22, 23; 20:18-19; 26:32; 27:63
Mark 9:10, 31; 10:32-34; 14:28, 58; Luke 9:22
John 2:19, 21, 22

2. Fulfilled: Matthew 28:6, etc.; Acts 13:30-37

3. Proof that He was bodily resurrected:
       Acts 1:1-4 "He showed Himself alive!"
       Luke 24:36, 39 ".... Jesus Himself stood in the midst
     of them ..."
   John 2:19, 21 "...He spake of the temple of His body!"

a. He appeared visibly to many people. Acts 13:30-31

   (1) First to Mary Magdalene. John 20:14, 18
      (2) Then to the other women. Matthew 28:9
      (3)   To Peter. Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5
      (4)   To the two disciples on the way to Emmaus.
   Luke 24:15
         (5)   In the closed room, to ten disciples.
      Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19, 20
         (6) To the eleven. John 20:26, 29
      (7) In the mountains, to the eleven. Matthew 28:10, 17
      (8) At the sea, to Peter, Thomas, Nathanael,
   the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
            John 21:1, 14, etc.
         (9) To 500 brethren at once. 1 Corinthians 15:6
         (10) To James, and to all the apostles.
      Acts 1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:7
      (11) To Paul. Acts 9:3-6; 22:17-21; 23:11
             1 Corinthians 15:8

b. He talked with them.
Matthew 28:10, 18
      Luke 24:15-17, 25-27, 36-49
         John 20:15-18, 22, 23, 26-29; 21:5, 6, 10-2 2
      Acts 1:3

c. He ate with them.
      Luke 24:30, 35, 41-43
      John 21:12, 15
      Acts 1:3, 4

   d. They touched Him.
  (1) The women. Matthew 28:9
  (2) The disciples. Luke 24:39
  (3) Thomas. John 20:27

VII. The doctrine of the deity of Jesus, one of the most basic tenets of Christian belief, is perverted by many cults falsely assuming the name of "Christian" (i.e., Jehovah's Witnesses/Watchtower Society; Mormonism, etc.), and "twisting the scriptures to their own destruction." It is essential, therefore, that true believers have a firm foundation in Scripture relating to this teaching

Diane Dew o PO Box 340945 o Milw WI 53234