THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST .
Jesus Christ was more than a "good man." He is God.
A. He Himself claimed to be God.
B. He accepted worship.
C. He claimed the power and authority to forgive sin.
D. "He was God manifest in the flesh" (l Timothy 3:16), "for in
Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily"
brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person...."
F. Jesus is therefore throughout scripture referred to as the
"image of God."
By the names attributed to him in scripture it can be seen that
Jesus Christ was truly God as well as man.
G. The "Alpha and Omega" (first and last).
Jesus Christ possessed all the attributes of God.
A. He was (is) omniscient (all-knowing).
1. He knew their thoughts.
2. He even foretold His own death by crucifixion.
B. He is omnipresent (everywhere).
C. He is omnipotent (all-powerful).
D. He is eternal.
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.
21:6; 22:13).
E. He is unchanging.
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.
B. It was the will of God that He suffer and die.
C. He even foretold His own death by crucifixion.
D. He said that He had the power to lay down His life and had
power to take it back again.
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.
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."
B. To "deliver them who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage."
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."
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.
2. Birthplace: Bethlehem.
3. Date of birth.
4. The genealogy of Jesus Christ.
a. Of Abraham's seed.
b. Descendant of Isaac.
c. Descendant of Jacob.
d. Of the tribe of Judah.
e. Descendant of Jesse.
5. The flight into Egypt.
B. His life.
Jesus alone lived a sinless, perfect life, fully
surrendered to the Father.
C. His ministry.
1. His manner of teaching was simplistic. He spoke in parables.
2. He spoke with authority.
3. His works, the wonders He performed while here
on earth, prove that Jesus Christ was more than a man.
D. His death. 1. Betrayal of a friend.
2. Forsaken by disciples.
3. Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver.
4. Potter's field bought with money.
5. Falsely accused by testimonies of many witnesses.
6. Dumb before His captors.
7. Scourged.
8. Crucified.
9. With evildoers.
10. His words while dying.
11. Vinegar and gall.
12. Scorned by men.
13. Wounded in hands and side.
14. None of His bones broken.
15. Lots cast for His clothes.
E. His resurrection.
3. Proof that He was bodily resurrected:
of them ..."
(4) To the two disciples on the way to Emmaus.
(5) In the closed room, to ten disciples.
(8) At the sea, to Peter, Thomas, Nathanael,
the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
(10) To James, and to all the apostles.
b. He talked with them.
c. He ate with them.
d. They touched Him.
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