The Deity of Christ (Part 1)

The New Testament seems to assume the deity of Christ, but that is not the end. There are also many texts and several arguments that prove that Christ is God without a doubt. The arguments and evidence that we will focus on are: Christ is identified with God, he receives worship that is due to God alone, he saves sinners, does the works of God, existed eternally, and bears the testimony of man and demon alike that he is God.

Identified with God

Christ is identified with God. This is seen in names and attributes that are ascribed to him.

Names

The names and titles given to Christ throughout the New Testament are both illuminating and revealing. In a number of passages, Christ is directly referred to as God. Individually they build a convincing case, a foundation. Notwithstanding, when considered together, they form an impressive structure that will defend against attack while comforting and securing those whom seek refuge within its mighty walls.

Matthew refers to Jesus as God. He wrote, quoting Isaiah, “'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel' [which means, God with us]” (Matt. 1:23). This was given by vision to Joseph who readily obeyed. Jesus is called God- he is God with us.

The apostle John penned some of the most beautiful and theological words about Christ and his divinity, thus equating him with God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). Jesus, the Word, was/is God. He later records the testimony of Thomas, one of Christ's disciples. Thomas is known for his doubting of the resurrection of Christ. Christ arose and then revealed himself to his closest followers, among others. Overcome with belief instead of uncertainty, Thomas exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” in reference to the risen Christ (Jn. 20:28).

In his first epistle, John again offers clear and unmistakable evidence of the fact that Jesus is God. He wrote in order to assure his audience of their salvation. Their salvation, incidentally, hinged on Jesus being fully God. John said, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life (1Jn. 5:20). The argument is astounding; John's readers were to be assured of their salvation, of their eternal life. He told them that Christ was their life eternal and solidified his argument by adding that Christ is God. He alone saves. Christ, in his person, is life. So, John called Jesus God directing the reader's attention to his ability to save. Only God has life in himself. Only God gives life to his creatures. Only Christ bestows eternal life on his children.

Another New Testament disciple and author disclosed staggering evidence on Christ's deity. Peter, writing to persecuted believers dispersed throughout the known world (2Pet. 3:1, which harkens back to his first epistle), addresses Jesus as God. “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2Pet. 1:1). What could be clearer? So far, these three men testified that Jesus is God. These men were disciples of Christ. They lived with him for three years and witnessed his many miracles, heard his teaching, and saw him die on a Roman cross, but they also were eye witnesses to his resurrection and ascension. Christ is God- but there is more.

The unknown author of the book of Hebrews weighs in. Being carried along by the Spirit of God, he wrote, “But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions” (Heb. 1:8-9). It is apparent; the author's main purpose is to prove that the Old Testament was fulfilled in and by Christ. To do this, the first chapter proves his deity while the second demonstrates his humanity. In our verses, he is describing Christ and calls him God when alluding to his throne or kingship and sovereignty.

Lastly, as we would expect, Paul suggests on a number of occasions, to different recipients, and in several contexts that Jesus Christ is most definitely God. To the Roman Christians, he wrote, “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen” (Rom. 9:5). To the saints at Philippi, when discussing Christ's humiliation and death, Paul said that Christ “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped...” (Phil. 2:6). Jesus is God over all and equal with God.

Then, in 1 Timothy, Paul burst into praise. He could not help but to worship after telling of Christ's amazing salvation. “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1:17). Finally, he wrote to Titus that believers were to wait “for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13). It is apparent that the men who penned the New Testament, the very men who lived with him and witnessed his death and resurrection, believed Jesus to be God. They beheld his glory, heard the Father's voice from heaven, believed his testimony, and saw the risen Savior. These men were eyewitnesses of his majesty and his deity.

In addition to Christ being called God, he is referred to as the Son of God, identifying him with deity. As God's Son, Jesus shares God's nature. Just as Adam had a son and they had the same nature, the Father and Son have the very same nature. It isn't similar or comparable, but it is of the same substance.

Matthew records Peter's confession of Christ: “Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'” Jesus then tells Peter that the Father revealed that very truth to him (Matt. 16:16-17). Earlier in the gospel account, the Father speaks from heaven and proclaims Jesus to be his Son. The Father thunders, “'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'” (Matt. 3:17). Later in Matthew's gospel, the Father says the same thing as Christ is transfigured on the mount (Matt. 17:5). When asked by the high priest if he was the Son of God, Jesus answered “You have said so” (Matt. 26:64).

Mark begins his gospel, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk. 1:1). Luke documents the angel's conversation with Mary, the mother of Jesus. “The angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy-the Son of God'” (Lk. 1:35).

John validates the claim further. He shares the Baptist's and Jesus' own testimony. “And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (Jn. 1:34). Jesus said, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (Jn. 3:18). Reference also 5:18 and 10:36-37 in John's gospel. In his first epistle, John stakes a person's salvation on the sonship of Christ. “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1Jn. 4:15).

If these verses are not enough, consider Saul [Paul] preaching in Damascus. He declared, “He [Jesus] is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20). The author of the book of Hebrews warns his audience of the danger of sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of truth. He combated false assurance and did so by cautioning them to think of the severe punishment that is deserved by those who have “spurned the Son of God” (Heb. 10:26-29). Consider too Luke 3:38, 22:70, John 1:14, 18, 3:16, and 1John 4:9 for more verses that call Jesus the Son of God or only begotten Son.

One final name attributed to Jesus that proves to any reasonable, Spirit-indwelt reader that he is indeed God is Lord. This is significant, because this is the very title given to God thousands of times on hundreds of pages of scripture. Passages could be multiplied, but a handful will be sufficient to substantiate the point. An angel, when speaking to shepherds of Jesus' birth, announced, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:11). “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am” (Jn. 13:13). “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1Cor. 1:9). “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1Cor. 8:6). Likewise, the interested student may look at John 12:37-41 with Isaiah 6, Ephesians 4:5, Philippians 2:9-11, and 1Peter 3:14-15.

The titles Son of God and Lord, along with being directly referred to as God, prove that Christ is God. He is not simply a god, a son of God, or a lord. Christ is the Son of God, the Lord, and, therefore, God. If he is anything less than God, scripture could not be trusted, we would be in our sins, hell would be our home, and Christ himself would be the most notorious con man who ever lived.

Excerpt from the author's book The Unsearchable Riches of Christ vol. 1: The Person of Christ