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III. The Deity of Christ
A. Jesus’ Claims to
Deity
1. Claims Relating
to God
a) Jesus Claimed
Equality with God
Matt. 10:40; Matt. 11:27; Matt. 28:19; John 3:35; John 5:17–18, 22–23; John 6:62; John 8:19; John 8:58; John 10:30, 36–38; John 12:44–45; John 14:1, 7–11; John 15:23; John 16:28; John 17:10, 21–23
b) Jesus Claimed the
Rights of God
(1) Jesus Claimed to
Forgive Sins
Matt. 26:28; Mark 2:1–12; Luke 7:48–49
(2) Jesus Claimed to
Give Life
Mark 5:41; Luke 23:42–43; John 5:21, 25, 28–29; John 6:33; John 10:10; John 11:25; John 14:6
(3) Jesus Claimed to
Judge
John 5:22, 27; John 8:15–16
(4) Jesus Claimed to
Grant Spiritual Blessings
Luke 24:49; John 1:12; John 14:13, 27; John 17:13
(5) Jesus Did
Miracles
Matt. 11:4–6; John 5:36; John 10:37–38; John 15:24
(6) Jesus Cleansed
the Temple
Matt. 21:12–13
(7) Jesus Claimed to
Establish God’s Kingdom
Matt. 4:23; Matt. 6:33; Matt. 7:21; Matt. 12:28; Matt. 21:31; Matt. 25:34; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 12:32
(8) Jesus Exorcised
Demons
Mark 1:27; Luke 11:14–20
(9) Jesus Claimed to
Defeat Satan
Luke 4:1–13; John 12:31
(10) Jesus Claimed
to Be Lord of the Sabbath
Mark 2:27–28
(11) Jesus Claimed
to Be David’s Lord
Luke 20:41–44
c) Jesus Claimed the
Authority of God
(1) General
Statements
Matt. 7:28–29; Matt. 21:23–27; Matt. 28:18; Mark 1:22; John 3:31; John 17:2
(2) Particular
Sayings
Matt. 5:18–20; Matt. 5:21–22; Matt. 5:26; Matt. 5:27–28; Matt. 5:31–32; Matt. 5:33–35; Matt. 5:38–39; Matt. 5:43–44; Matt. 6:2; Matt. 6:25; Matt. 6:29; Matt. 7:22–23; Matt. 8:11–12; Matt. 10:15; Matt. 10:23; Matt. 10:42; Matt. 12:6; Matt. 12:36; Matt. 13:17; Matt. 17:12; Matt. 17:20; Matt. 18:3; Matt. 18:13; Matt. 18:18–20; Matt. 19:9; Matt. 19:23–24; Matt. 21:31; Matt. 21:43; Matt. 23:36; Matt. 24:2–3, 34; Matt. 25:12; Matt. 25:40; Mark 3:28–29; Mark 5:41; Mark 8:12; Mark 9:1; Mark 9:41; Mark 10:15; Mark 10:29–31; Mark 11:23–25; Mark 12:43; Mark 13:30–32, 37; Mark 14:9; Mark 14:18; Mark 14:25; Mark 14:30; Luke 4:24–27; Luke 6:27–28; Luke 7:28; Luke 7:47; Luke 10:24; Luke 11:9; Luke 12:4–5; Luke 12:8; Luke 12:37; Luke 12:43–44; Luke 13:23; Luke 13:35; Luke 16:9; Luke 23:43; John 1:51; John 3:3, 5; John 3:11; John 5:19, 24–25; John 6:26; John 6:32; John 6:47; John 6:53; John 8:34; John 8:51; John 8:58; John 10:1, 7; John 12:24–25; John 13:16; John 13:20; John 13:21; John 13:38; John 14:12; John 16:20, 23; John 21:18
d) Jesus Described
Himself as God’s Counterpart on Earth
Matt. 11:25–27; John 3:16; John 5:19–23; John 8:19, 38; John 10:36; John 17:25–26
e) Jesus Accepted
Prayer, Praise, and Worship
Matt. 2:2; Matt. 8:2; Matt. 9:18; Matt. 14:33; Matt. 15:25; Matt. 18:20; Matt. 28:9, 17; Mark 5:6–7; Luke 23:42–43; Luke 24:52; John 5:23; John 14:14
f) Jesus Found the
Source of Power within Himself
Matt. 9:6; John 5:26; John 10:17–18; John 10:28
g) Jesus Never
Showed Any Consciousness of Sin
John 8:46; John 14:30; John 17:4
2. Claims Relating
to Human Beings
a) Jesus Promised
Peace and Rest to Those Who Trust Him
Matt. 11:28–30; John 6:29; John 7:38; John 14:27; John 16:33; John 20:19
b) Jesus Claimed
Power over All Life, Space, and Time
Matt. 16:27; Matt. 18:20; Matt. 24:1–51; Matt. 28:18, 20; John 14:23
c) Jesus Claimed to
Determine People’s Eternal Destiny
Matt. 7:21–23; Matt. 10:32–33; Matt. 11:6; Matt. 25:31–46; Mark 8:34–38; John 3:16; John 5:24; John 10:28–29; John 12:32
d) Jesus Claimed
Final Authority over People
John 4:24–26; John 6:35; John 8:12, 23–24, 28, 58; John 10:7, 9; John 10:11, 14; John 11:25; John 13:18–20; John 14:6; John 15:1, 5
3. Claims Relating
to Jesus’ Mission
a) Jesus Came to Be
People’s Savior
Matt. 9:12–13; Matt. 15:24; Matt. 18:12–14; Mark 2:17; Luke 15:1–32; Luke 19:10; John 3:14–18; John 3:36; John 6:51; John 8:12; John 10:16, 28; John 12:47
b) Jesus Came to
Make God Known
Mark 1:14; Mark 1:38; Luke 10:22; Luke 14:7–11, 23–24; John 5:17; John 6:38; John 7:16–18; John 8:26, 38, 42; John 12:49–50; John 15:15; John 16:25, 28
c) Jesus Came to Sum
Up the Entire OT
Matt. 5:17–18; Matt. 11:4–6; Matt. 13:16–17; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:17–21; Luke 10:23–24; Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44–45; John 5:39–40
B. NT
Claims to Jesus’ Deity
1. Jesus Is
Considered Equal with God
Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 1:3; 1 Cor. 12:4–6; 2 Cor. 13:14; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 4:4–5; Eph. 6:23; Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:19; Col. 2:9; Col. 3:1; 1 Thess. 3:11; 2 Thess. 2:16–17; 1 John 2:23; 1 John 5:20; Rev. 20:6; Rev. 22:3
2. Jesus Possesses
God’s Attributes
a) Eternality
John 1:1–2, 15; Acts 3:15; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:11; Rev. 1:8; Rev. 1:17–18
b) Faithfulness
2 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 2:13; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 3:6; Rev. 1:5; Rev. 3:14; Rev. 19:11
c) Goodness
John 10:11; Acts 10:38; 1 Pet. 2:2
d) Grace
John 1:14, 17; Acts 15:11; 2 Cor. 8:9; 1 Tim. 1:14; Heb. 4:16
e) Holiness
Mark 1:24; Luke 1:35; John 6:69; Acts 3:14; Acts 4:27; Heb. 4:15; Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22; Rev. 3:7
f) Justice
Rev. 19:11
g) Love
John 15:9; Rom. 8:35, 38–39; 2 Cor. 5:14; Eph. 3:17–18; 1 John 3:16
h) Mercy
Heb. 2:17; Heb. 4:16; Jude 21
i) Omnipotence
Isa. 9:6; Matt. 28:18; 1 Cor. 1:24; 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:19–21; Col. 2:10; Heb. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:16; Rev. 1:8; Rev. 12:10
j) Omnipresence
Matt. 18:20; John 3:13; Eph. 1:22–23
k) Omniscience
Matt. 11:27; Acts 1:24; 1 Cor. 4:5; Col. 2:2–3; Rev. 2:19; Rev. 2:23
l) Patience
1 Tim. 1:16
m) Righteousness
2 Tim. 4:8; Heb. 1:8; Heb. 7:1–2, 17, 26; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 John 2:1, 29; Rev. 19:11
n) Self-Existence
John 1:1; 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:6; Heb. 7:16
o) Truthfulness
John 1:14, 17; John 14:6; John 18:37; 2 Cor. 11:10; Eph. 4:21; 1 John 5:20; Rev. 3:7, 14; Rev. 19:11
p) Unchangeability
Heb. 1:11–12; Heb. 13:8
q) Wisdom
1 Cor. 1:24; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:2–3; Rev. 5:12
3. Jesus Does the
Work of God
a) God’s Work
Related to the Created Order
(1) Jesus Created
See The Son and Creation
(2) Jesus Sustains
John 1:3–4; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3
(3) Jesus Rules
1 Cor. 15:27; Phil. 2:9–11; Rev. 1:5; Rev. 3:14
b) God’s Work
Related to Mankind
(1) Jesus Judges All
Mankind
Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1
(2) Jesus Punishes
the Wicked
1 Thess. 5:2–3; 2 Thess. 1:6–9; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 6:14–17; Rev. 11:18; Rev. 21:8
(3) Jesus Rewards
the Righteous
1 Cor. 9:25; Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:17; 2 Thess. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Pet. 1:3–5; Rev. 2:10; Rev. 7:17; Rev. 11:18
c) God’s Work
Related to the Problem of Sin
(1) Jesus Overcomes
Evil
Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 17:14
(2) Jesus Appeases
God’s Wrath
Rom. 3:23–25; Rom. 5:8–11; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 2:13–16; Heb. 9:11–14; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 John 4:10
(3) Jesus Justifies
People before God
Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:23–24; Rom. 3:26; Rom. 4:23–25; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 8:1–3; Gal. 2:16–17; 1 John 1:7
(4) Jesus Reconciles
People to God
Rom. 5:10–11; 2 Cor. 5:18; Eph. 2:14–16; Col. 1:20
(5) Jesus Forgives
Sin
Acts 5:31; Eph. 1:7; Col. 3:13
(6) Jesus Saves
People
Acts 4:12; 1 Thess. 5:9; 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 John 4:14
d) God’s Work
Related to Believers
(1) Jesus Gives Life
to Believers
Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:4–6; Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 5:10; 2 Tim. 2:11; 1 John 4:9; 1 John 5:12
(2) Jesus Gives
Revelation to Believers
2 Cor. 12:1; Gal. 1:12
(3) Jesus Indwells
Believers
2 Cor. 13:5; Eph. 3:17
(4) Jesus Empowers
Believers
2 Cor. 12:9; Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:29; 1 Tim. 1:12
(5) Jesus Speaks
through Believers
2 Cor. 13:3
(6) Jesus Calls for
Ministry from Believers
Acts 26:16–18; 2 Cor. 5:20
(7) Jesus Sanctifies
Believers
1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 5:25–27; Heb. 2:11; Heb. 13:12
(8) Jesus Intercedes
for Believers
Rom. 8:34; Eph. 3:12; Col. 3:17; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1
(9) Jesus Preserves
Believers
Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 1:8; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 2:18
(10) Jesus
Transforms the Bodies of Believers
1 Cor. 15:50–51; Phil. 3:20–21
(11) Jesus Leads
Believers
Rev. 7:17
e) God’s Work
Related to Scripture
1 Pet. 1:10–11
4. Jesus Is
Identified with God
a) Jesus and God’s
Being
Heb. 1:3
b) Jesus and God’s
Glory
2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 1:3
c) Jesus and God’s
Image
2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15
d) Jesus and God’s
Name
John 1:1, 18; John 20:28, 31; Acts 9:20; Acts 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Col. 2:9; 1 Thess. 1:9–10; 1 Tim. 3:16; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:5, 8; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 5:20
e) Jesus and God’s
Nature
Phil. 2:6
5. Jesus Is
Paralleled with God
(1) The Glory Is of
God and Christ
Rom. 5:1–2; 1 Cor. 2:8; 1 Pet. 4:13–14; 2 Pet. 1:17
(2) The Glory of God
Is in Christ
1 Cor. 4:6
(3) Majesty Is of
God and Christ
Heb. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:16–17
(4) The Spirit Is of
God and Christ
Rom. 8:9; Phil. 1:19; 1 Thess. 4:8; 1 Pet. 1:11–12
(5) Only God Is Wise
and Christ Is Our Wisdom
1 Cor. 1:21–24
(6) The Power Is of
God and Christ
1 Cor. 5:4–5; 2 Cor. 6:7; 2 Cor. 12:9
(7) Christ Is the
Power of God
1 Cor. 1:24
(8) The Truth Is of
God and Christ
Rom. 1:25; Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 11:10
(9) The
Authoritative Word Is of God and Christ
Matt. 4:4; Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 1:8
(10) God and Christ
Love Us
Rom. 5:8; Rom. 8:35; Gal. 2:20
(11) The Love of God
Is in Christ
Rom. 8:39
(12) Mercy Is from
God and Christ
Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 7:25; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2; Jude 21
(13) The Gospel Is
of God and Christ
Rom. 1:16; 2 Cor. 10:14; Gal. 1:7; Phil. 1:27; 1 Thess. 2:2; 1 Thess. 3:2; 2 Thess. 1:8
(14) Salvation Is
from God and Christ
Eph. 5:23; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thess. 5:9; Titus 2:10–11; Titus 2:13
(15) God and Christ
Rescue Us
Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 1:10
(16) God and Christ
Redeem Us
Gal. 3:13; Gal. 4:4; Col. 1:13
(17) God and Christ
Forgive Our Sins
Col. 1:13–14; Col. 2:13
(18) We Are to
Believe God and Christ
Acts 16:31; Rom. 4:1–3; Gal. 2:16–19
(19) We Are to Know
God and Christ
Gal. 4:8–9; Phil. 3:10; 2 Pet. 1:8
(20) Peace Comes
from God and Christ
Eph. 2:13–14; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; Col. 3:15; 1 Thess. 1:1; 1 Thess. 5:23
(21) Grace Is of God
and Christ
Gal. 1:6; Col. 1:2; Col. 1:6; Phil. 1:2; Phil. 4:23; 1 Thess. 1:1; 1 Thess. 5:28
(22) God and Christ
Dwell in Us
Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:16–17; Eph. 4:6; Col. 1:27
(23) God and Christ
Sanctify Us
Acts 20:32; Acts 26:15, 17–18; 1 Cor. 1:2
(24) God and Christ
Are Our Strength
Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:10–11
(25) God and Christ
Strengthen Us
2 Thess. 2:16–17
(26) God and Christ
Comfort Us
2 Cor. 1:3–5; Phil. 2:1
(27) We Are to Obey
God and Christ
Acts 5:29; 2 Cor. 10:5; Eph. 6:5; 1 Pet. 1:1–2
(28) We Live by the
Will of God and Christ
Eph. 1:11; Eph. 5:17
(29) We Live in the
Presence of God and Christ
Acts 10:33; 1 Thess. 2:19; 2 Tim. 4:1
(30) We Are to Live
Worthy of God and Christ
Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:11–12
(31) We Live in the
Sight of God and Christ
2 Cor. 2:10; 2 Cor. 4:2; 1 Tim. 5:21
(32) We Are Servants
(Slaves) of God and Christ
Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:10; Col. 3:23–24; 1 Thess. 1:9
(33) We Boast in God
and Christ
1 Cor. 1:28–31; Phil. 2:16
(34) We Hope in God
and Christ
Rom. 15:13; 1 Cor. 15:19; Eph. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:1
(35) We Joy
(Rejoice) in God and Christ
Luke 1:46; Phil. 1:26
(36) We Are to Glory
in God and Christ
Rom. 15:17; Phil. 2:11; Phil. 3:3
(37) The Fullness of
God and Christ Is Ours
Eph. 3:19; Eph. 4:13
(38) The Kingdom Is
of God and Christ
Eph. 5:5; Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:12
(39) The Church Is
of God and Christ
Gal. 1:13; 1 Thess. 1:1; 1 Thess. 2:12
(40) The Mystery
(Secret Things) Is of God and Christ
Eph. 3:4; Eph. 3:8; Col. 4:3
(41) The Great Day
Is of God and Christ
1 Cor. 1:8; 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:2
(42) We Stand Before
God and Christ
Gal. 1:20; 1 Thess. 2:19
(43) We Appear
before the Judgment Seat of God and Christ
Rom. 14:10–12; 2 Cor. 5:10
6. Jesus Is Assigned
OT Designations of God
Matt. 1:23; Matt. 3:3; John 3:31; John 12:38–41; Acts 3:14; Rom. 10:9–13; Rom. 14:10–12; 1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Cor. 2:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 4:7–8; Phil. 2:9–11; 2 Thess. 1:6–10; 2 Thess. 1:12; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8–9; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 3:15; Rev. 1:17
7. Jesus Is Superior
to Men and Angels
John 1:17; Eph. 1:19–22; Phil. 2:9–10; Col. 1:17–18; Col. 2:10; Heb. 1:4–6, 13; Heb. 2:5, 7–8; Heb. 3:3; 1 Pet. 3:21–22; Rev. 1:5
8. Jesus Receives
Prayer, Praise, and Worship
Acts 3:16; Acts 7:59–60; Acts 22:16; Rom. 1:7; Rom. 10:9–12; 1 Cor. 11:24–25; 2 Cor. 12:8–9; Gal. 1:3–5; Gal. 6:18; Eph. 5:21; Phil. 2:10–11; 2 Thess. 2:16–17; 1 Tim. 1:2, 12; 2 Tim. 4:18, 22; Heb. 1:6; Heb. 13:20–21; 1 Pet. 3:15; 2 Pet. 3:18; Rev. 5:14; Rev. 7:9–10; Rev. 15:3–4
C. The Sinlessness
of Jesus
Matt. 27:3–4; John 7:16–18; John 8:29, 46, 50; Rom. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 1:9; Heb. 2:10; Heb. 4:15; Heb. 7:26–28; 1 Pet. 1:1:19; 1 Pet. 2:22–23; 1 John 3:5
D. The Glory of
Christ
Mark 9:2–7; Luke 24:26; John 1:14; John 2:11; John 11:4; John 12:38–41; John 17:5, 22; 1 Cor. 2:8; Gal. 1:3–5; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:21; 2 Pet. 1:16–17; Rev. 1:6
E. The Resurrection
of Christ
See Christ’s Resurrection
F. The Exaltation of
Christ
Ps. 8:5–6; Ps. 89:27; Ps. 110:1; Ps. 118:22; Isa. 52:13; John 6:62; Acts 2:33; Acts 5:31; Acts 7:55; Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:19–22; Eph. 4:15; Eph. 5:23; Phil. 2:9–10; Col. 2:10; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3–5, 13; Heb. 2:5, 7–9; Heb. 10:12; Heb. 12:2; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 3:21
OT
Old Testament
NT
New Testament
Elwell, W. A., & Buckwalter, D. (1996,
c1991). Vol. 5: Topical analysis of the Bible : With the New
International Version. Includes indexes. Baker reference library.
Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House.
------------------------ b) Christ to Be Incarnate God
(1) Prophecy
Ps. 2:7; Ps. 110:1; Isa. 9:6–7; Mic. 5:2
(2) Fulfillment
Matt. 1:23; John 1:14; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:8
Elwell, W. A., & Buckwalter, D. (1996,
c1991). Vol. 5: Topical analysis of the Bible : With the New
International Version. Includes indexes. Baker reference library.
Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House.
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
CHAPTER 1
HIS DIVINITY
I. Divine
Names
(1)
Luke 22:70—“Then
said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say
that I am.”
“The
Son of God.” This name is given to
Christ forty times. Besides
this the synonymous expressions, “His Son,” “My Son,” are of frequent
occurrence. That this name, as used of
Christ, is a distinctly divine name appears from Jno. 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.”
(2)
Jno. 1:18—“No
man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of
the Father, he hath declared him.”
“The
Only Begotten Son.” This occurs five times. It is evident that the
statement that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God only in the same sense that all men are sons of God is not
true. Compare Mark 12:6—“Having yet therefore one
son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last
unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.” Here
Jesus Himself, having spoken of
all the prophets as servants of God, speaks of Himself as “one,” a beloved
“Son.”
(3)
Rev. 1:17—“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.”
“The
First and the Last.” Compare 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.” Is. 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.” In these
latter passages it is “Jehovah” “Jehovah of hosts” who is “the first and the
last.”
(4)
Rev. 22:12,
13,
16—“And,
behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according
as his work shall be. I am
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I, Jesus,
have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am
the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”
First.—“The
Alpha and Omega.”
Second.—“The
Beginning and the Ending.”
Cf. Rev. 1:8, R. V.—“I am the Alpha and the Omega
saith the Lord God, which
is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty.” Here it is the Lord God
who is the Alpha and Omega.
(5)
Acts 3:14—“But
he denied the Holy One and the just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto
you.”
“The
Holy One.”—In Hosea 11:9—(“I will not execute the fierceness of mine
anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God and not man; the
Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city”), and many
other passages; it is God who is “the Holy One.”
(6)
Mal. 3:1—“Behold
I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the
Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of
the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold he shall come, saith the
Lord
of Hosts.”
Luke 2:11—“For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord.”
Acts 9:17—“And
Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him
said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way
as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be
filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Cf.
Jno. 20:28;
Heb. 1:10.)
“The
Lord.” This name or title is used of
Jesus several hundred times.
The word translated “Lord” is used in the New Testament in speaking of men
nine times; e. g.,
Acts 16:30; Eph. 4:1; Jno. 12:21, but not at all in the way in which it is
used of Christ. He is spoken of
as “the Lord” just
as God is. Cf. Acts 4:26—“The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were
gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ,” with 4:33—“And
with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus: and great grace was given them all.”
Note also Matt. 22:43–45, —“He saith unto them, How, then,
doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, sit
thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. If David
called him Lord, how is he his son?” Phil. 2:11—“And that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Eph.
4:5—“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
If any one doubts the attitude of the apostles of
Jesus toward Him as divine they
would do well to read one after another the passages which speak of him as
Lord.
(7)
Acts 10:36—“The
word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus
Christ (he is Lord of all).”
“Lord
of All.”
(8)
1 Cor. 2:8—“Which
none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not
have crucified the Lord of glory.”
“The
Lord of Glory.”
In Ps.
24:8–10—“Who is this King of Glory? The
Lord strong and mighty, the
Lord mighty in battle. Lift up
your heads, O ye gates: even lift them up, ye everlasting doors: and the king
of glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory?
The
Lord
of hosts, he is the King of
Glory.” It is the Lord of Hosts
who is the King of Glory.
(9)
Is. 9:6—(a)
“Wonderful.”
(Cf, Judges
13:18, R. V. “And the angel
of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore askest thou after my name, seeing it is
wonderful?”) (b)
“Mighty
God.” (c)
“Father
of Eternity.” (See R. V.,
Marg.)
(10)
Heb. 1:8—“But
unto the son he saith, Thy throne,
O God,
is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy
kingdom.”
“God.”
In Jno.
20:28—“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” Thomas
calls Jesus “my God,” and is gently rebuked for not believing it before.
(11)
Matt. 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.”
“God
with us.”
(12)
Tit. 2:13,
R. V.—“Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great
God and Savior
Jesus
Christ.”
“Our
Great God.”
(13)
Rom. 9:5—“Whose
are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over
all, God blessed forever. Amen.”
“God
Blessed Forever.”
PROPOSITION:
Sixteen names clearly implying Deity are used of Christ in the Bible, some of
them over and over again, the total number of passages reaching far into the
hundreds.
II. Divine
Attributes
(1) Omnipotence
(a)
Luke 4:39—“And
he stood over her, and rebuked the fever: and it left her: and immediately she
arose and ministered unto them.”
Jesus
has power over disease, it is subject to his word.
(b)
Luke 7:14,
15—“And
he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said,
Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to
speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”
Luke 8:54,
55—“And
he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid,
arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded
to give her meat.”
Jno. 5:25—“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.”
The Son
of God has power over death; it is subject to His word.
(c)
Matt. 8:26,
27—“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. But the men
marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea
obey him?”
Jesus
has power over the winds and sea; they are subject to His word.
(d)
Matt. 8:16—“When
the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils:
and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.”
Luke 4:35,
36,
41—“And
Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the
devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And
they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this!
for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come
out. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ
the Son of God. And he rebuking them, suffered them not to speak: for they
knew that he was Christ.”
Jesus
the Christ, the Son of God, has
power over demons; they are subject to His word.
(e)
Eph. 1:20–23—“Which
he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own
right hand in the heavenly
places. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to
come. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over
all things to the church. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth
all in all.”
Christ
is far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every
name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come;
all things are in subjection (R. V.) under His feet. All the hierarchies of
the angelic world are under Him.
(f)
Heb. 1:3—“Who
being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of His person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high.”
The Son
of God upholds all things by the word of His power.
FIRST PROPOSITION:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is omnipotent.
(2) Omniscience
(a)
Jno. 4:16–19—“Jesus
saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and
said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no
husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy
husband; in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him. Sir, I perceive
that thou art a prophet.”
Jesus
knew men’s lives, even their secret history.
(b)
Mark 2:8—“And
immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within
themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?”
Luke 5:22—“But
when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason
ye in your hearts?”
Jno. 2:24,
25—“But
Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men. And needed
not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” (See also
Acts 1:24.)
Jesus
knew the secret thoughts of men; He knew all men; He knew what was in man.
In 2 Chron. 6:30—[“Then hear thou from heaven, thy
dwelling-place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his
ways whose heart thou knowest (for thou only knowest the hearts of the
children of men). Jer. 17:9, 10—“The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it? I, the
Lord search the heart, I try
the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the
fruit of his doings”] we are told that God “only knoweth the hearts of the
children of men.”
(c)
Jno. 6:64—“But
there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who
they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”
Jesus
knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him. Not only men’s present
thoughts but their future choices were known to Him.
(d)
Jno. 1:48—“Nathanael
saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him,
Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw
thee.”
Jesus
knew what men were doing at a distance.
(e)
Luke 22:10–12—“And
he said unto them, Behold when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man
meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he
entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good man of the house, The Master saith
unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my
disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make
ready.”
Jno. 13:1—“Now
before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that
he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which
were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”
Luke 5:4–6—“Now
when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and
let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master,
we have toiled all night and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I
will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great
multitude of fishes: and their net brake.”
Jesus
knew the future regarding not only God’s acts, but regarding the minute
specific acts of men, and even regarding the fishes of the sea.
Note.—Many,
if not all, of these items of knowledge up to this point could, if they stood
alone, be accounted for by saying that the Omniscient God revealed these
specific things to
Jesus.
(f)
Jno. 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.”
16:30—“Now
are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should
ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.”
Col. 2:3—“In
whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Jesus
knew all things; in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
SECOND PROPOSITION:
Jesus Christ is omniscient.
Note.—There
was, as we shall see when we come to study the humanity of
Christ,
a voluntary veiling and abnegation of the exercise of His inherent Divine
Omniscience. (Compare
Mark 11:12–14:
Phil. 2:7.)
(3) Omnipresence
(a)
Matt. 18:20—“For
where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst
of them.”
Jesus Christ
is present in every place where two or three are gathered together in His
name.
(b)
Matt. 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.”
Jesus Christ
is present with every one who goes forth into any part of the world to make
disciples, etc.
(c)
Jno. 3:13—“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from
heaven, even the son of man which is in heaven.”
The Son
of Man was in heaven while He was here on earth.
Note.—The
reading here is doubtful. It is found in this way in the Alexandrian MS., and
almost all versions. The closing words are omitted in the Sinaitic and other
important MSS. It is accepted by most of the best editors;
e. g.,
Tischendorf and Tregelles, but it is rejected by Westcott and Hort.
(d)
Jno. 14:20—“At
that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”
2 Cor. 13:5—“Examine
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not
your own selves, how that
Jesus
Christ is in you, except ye
be reprobates?”
Jesus Christ
is in each believer.
(e)
Eph. 1:23—“Which
is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Jesus Christ
filleth all in all.
THIRD PROPOSITION:
Jesus Christ is Omnipresent.
(4) Eternity
Jno. 1:1—“In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
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.”
Col. 1:17—“And
he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
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.”
Jno. 17:5—“And
now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had
with thee before the world was.” (See also
Jno. 6:62.)
Jno. 8:58—“Jesus
said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
1 Jno. 1:1—“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.”
Heb. 13:8—“Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.”
FOURTH PROPOSITION:
The Son of God was from all eternity.
(5) Immutability
Heb. 13:8—“Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.”
Heb. 1:12—“And
as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art
the same, and thy years shall not fail.”
FIFTH PROPOSITION:
Jesus Christ is unchangeable. He not only always is but always is the same.
(6.)
Phil. 2:6—“Who
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”
SIXTH PROPOSITION:
Jesus Christ before His incarnation was in the form of God.
Note.—The
Greek word translated “form,” means “the form by which a person or thing
strikes the vision; the external appearance.” (Thayer, Greek-Eng. Lexicon of
the N.T.)
(7)
Col. 2:9.—“For
in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily.”
SEVENTH PROPOSITION:
In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head in a bodily way.
GENERAL PROPOSITION:
Five or more distinctively Divine Attributes are ascribed to Jesus Christ and
all the fulness of the God-head is said to dwell in Him.
III. Divine
Offices
(1) Creation
Heb. 1:10—“And
thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the
heavens are the works of thy hands.”
Jno. 1:3.
“All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was
made.”
Col. 1:16—“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.”
FIRST PROPOSITION:
The Son of God, the Eternal Word, the Lord, is Creator of all created things.
(2) Preservation
Heb. 1:3—“Who,
being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
SECOND PROPOSITION:
The Son of God is the Preserver of all things.
(3) The
Forgiveness of Sin
Mark 2:5–10—“When
Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son,
thy sins be forgiven thee.
But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their
hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies?
Who can forgive sins but God only?
And immediately when
Jesus
perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto
them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say
to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and
take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power
on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy).”
Luke 7:48—“And
he said unto her, Thy
sins are forgiven.”
THIRD PROPOSITION:
Jesus Christ had power on earth to forgive sins.
Note.—He
taught that sins were sins against Himself. (See
Luke 7:40–47—“And
Jesus answering said unto
him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred
pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly
forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon
answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said
unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned unto the woman, and said
unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me
no water for my feet: but she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them
with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the
time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst
not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore, I
say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but
to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
He speaks
of both Simon and the woman, as sinners, being debtors to himself.
(Compare
Ps. 51:4—“Against
thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou
mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”)
(4) Raising
of the Dead
Jno. 6:39,
44—“And
this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given
me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. No man can
come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise
him up at the last day.”
FOURTH PROPOSITION:
It is Jesus Christ who raises the dead.
Question:
Did not Elijah and Elisha raise the dead? No. God raised the dead in answer to
their prayer, but Jesus Christ
will raise the dead by his own word. During his humiliation it was by prayer
that Christ raised the dead. (Jno.
11:41—“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.
And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast
heard me.”)
(5) Transformation
of Bodies
Phil. 3:21,
R.V.—“Who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation that it may be
conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is
able to subject all things unto himself.”
FIFTH PROPOSITION:
Jesus Christ shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation into the likeness
of His glorious body.
(6) Judgment
2 Tim. 4:1,
R. V.—“I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge
the quick and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.”
SIXTH PROPOSITION:
Christ Jesus shall judge the quick and the dead.
Note.—Jesus Himself
emphasized the Divine character of this office.
John 5:22,
23—“For
the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
That all men should honor
the Son even as they honor the Father.
He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him.”
(7) The
Bestowal of Eternal Life
Jno. 10:28—“And
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand.”
Jno. 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.”
SEVENTH PROPOSITION:
Jesus Christ is the giver of Eternal Life.
GENERAL PROPOSITION:
Seven distinctly Divine Offices are predicated of Jesus Christ.
IV. Statements
Which in the Old Testament are Made Distinctly of Jehovah, God, Taken in the
New Testament to Refer to Jesus Christ
(1)
Ps. 102:24–27—“I
said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are
throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth:
and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt
endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as vesture shalt thou
change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years
shall have no end.”
In Heb.
1:10–12—“And thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the
earth; and the heavens are the works of Thy hands. They shall perish; but thou
remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment. And as a vesture
shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and
thy years shall not fail”—this statement is interpreted as referring to
Jesus Christ.
(2)
Is. 40:3,
4—“The
voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the
Lord
(Jehovah), make straight in the desert the highway for our God. Every valley
shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the
crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.”
In Matt.
3:3; Luke 1:68, 69, 76—“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited
and redeemed his people. And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the
house of his servant David. And thou, child shall be called the prophet of the
highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways”—Jesus
is the Lord before whose face the messenger goes.
(3)
Jer. 11:20—“But,
O
Lord of hosts, that judgest
righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on
them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.”
Jer. 17:10—“I,
the
Lord,
search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
In Rev.
2:23—“And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know
that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every
one of you according to your works”—it is
Jesus who does what is
distinctly said of Jehovah in the Old Testament passage.
(4)
Is. 60:19—“The
sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon
give light unto thee: but the
Lord
shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.” (See also
Zech. 2:5.)
This is
said of Jesus in Luke 2:32—“A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of
thy people Israel.”
(5)
Is. 6:1,
3,
10—“In
the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the
Lord
sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. And
one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the
Lord
of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Make the heart of this people
fat, and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes; lest they see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert
and be healed.” (Compare
Jno. 12:37–41—“But
though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.
That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake, Lord,
who hath believed our report?
and to whom hath the arm of the
Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said
again, He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts; that they should
not see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts and be converted,
and I should heal them. These things said Esaias
when he saw his glory,
and spake of him.”)
In the
Old Testament passage it was when he saw the glory of Jehovah of hosts that
Isaiah spoke these things, but in the New Testament John says it was when
Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus Christ
that he said this. The inference is simple.
(6)
Is. 8:13,
14—“Sanctify
the
Lord
of hosts himself: and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he
shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of
offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (Compare
1 Pet. 2:7,
8—“Unto
you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be
disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the
head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, even to
them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed.”)
In the
Old Testament J |