Christian Doctrine – The Doctrine of Christ: His Deity, Pt. 15

In 1 Timothy 3:16 Paul tells us that, “God was manifest in the flesh.” This verse clearly affirms the Deity of Christ. But what does the Christian mean in referring to the “Deity of Christ?” Christians believe that there is a personal God, the creator, redeemer, preserver and ruler of the universe, who is infinite in holiness and perfect in every way. So when Christians say that Jesus is God they mean that the same historical Jesus of Nazareth existed in eternity, before he became a man, as infinite eternal God, the second person of the Trinity.

There was a time when certain groups within Christianity questioned the humanity of Jesus. Very few today would deny that Jesus was a man. Now, some groups deny the deity of Christ. In fact for a number of years liberal theologians have been denying the true godhood of Jesus. Of course the cult Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the deity of Christ. To accept the liberal view or cultic view is to deny Scripture, the plain teaching of the Bible.

Jesus claims to be God. He claimed to be Divine and to have a unique relationship to the Father (Luke 2:49, John 5:17; 10:30). He stated that to know Him was to know the Father (John 8:19; 14:9). He claimed pre-existence (John 8:51-58). He received and accepted worship (John 20:26-29). He claimed to forgive sin (Mark 2:1-12). He claimed to restore life (John 6:35). He claimed all power and authority (Matt 28:18). He claimed to be the object of religious faith (John 14:1).

For anyone else to claim deity would be conceited or madness but not for Jesus because He was able to back up every claim. He had power over sickness and disease, over nature, life and death itself. His resurrection demonstrates finally and conclusively Christ’s claim to deity. Death could not hold him (Acts 1:3).

The followers of Christ also made some claims. It was the unanimous conclusion of all the biblical writers that Jesus is God. John the apostle believed Jesus to be divine (John 1:1-2). Paul affirmed that Christ had part in creation (Col 1:15; 2:9; 1 Tim 3:16). The apostle Peter referred to Jesus as God when he wrote, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1)

Try to put yourself in the shoes of the disciples as they gradually came to a realization of who Jesus actually was. Is Jesus the one person you would be able to trust with your life for all eternity? Will you be happy to join with thousands of others in worshipping around his throne in heaven? Do you delight in worshiping him now? Hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year. May the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, be more real to you this season than ever before. God loves you and so does First Baptist Church.