DEITY OF CHRIST

The Deity of Christ is one of the Cornerstones of Christianity.

Jesus Christ, according to the Bible, is the very Essence of God.  Jesus is the Express image of God.  And the Bible says, "in Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:17). But we were also told that Christ (God the Son, the I AM that I AM Almighty God in the Old Testament) emptied Himself in order to become a man. (Philippians 2:5-8).  Christ did NOT empty Himself of His Love, His goodness, His Kindness, or His gentleness for His Divine nature was Undiminished in the Incarnation.  But to become a human Infant, He did empty Him of the Eternal majesty that He shared in the Presence of His Heavenly Father.

Jesus went through the teen-age years, grew up to be a man, died and then came back to life again.  Jesus was a flesh-and-blood man, with all that it entails, except for SIN.  When Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary it was NOT an illusion.  He really died.  Jesus suffered as men suffer.  He became tired and hungry.   He was not free from pain and discomfort.  The Bible says that Jesus was Tempted in like manner as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus went through all the Problems that man can go through, YET He always possessed His Divine Nature and His awareness of the Presence of the Father and the Holy Spirit.  The Bible teaches us that Jesus was truly God (God the Son NOT God the Father)  from the moment of His Conception by the Holy Spirit.   But at the same time He was fully human. (Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:14-18; 4: 14-16).

Jesus Claimed to be God, and He allowed Himself to be worshiped as God. After His resurrection, one of His disciples Thomas fell on his knees and said, "My Lord and My God!" (John 20:28) to a good Jew, this would have been BLASPHEMY, but Jesus received it approvingly!.   Jesus also said, "You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthews 26:64.) He identified Himself as the Son of God.  In His lifetime, Jesus said things about Himself that, if they were NOT true, they would have been the words of a Madman. He made a series of claims about His own Divine Nature. When people challenged Him on it, He said, in effect, "If I deny my DEITY I would be become a liar, as you are." (John 8:55).   

         1.  Concerning Jesus' relationship with the Father.  (John 5:17,18) But Jesus answered them, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work."  The Jews sought the more to kill Jesus, because he NOT only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.  The Greek word for Equal is Ison, which is according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon.  An acknowledge authority means, "Equal in Quality as in Quantity, to claim for One's self the Nature, Rank, Authority, which belongs to God"

          Paul wrote in  (Philippians 2:5-8) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.  Who being in the Form of God thought it NOT robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of No reputation, and took upon him the Form of a Servant, and was made in the likeness of men

Paul claims full DEITY of Christ and maintenance that in His Pre-Incarnate Life.  He existed in the Form of God.  The term equal here denotes Absolute Sameness of Nature, thus confirming Christ's true Deity.

Christ is equal with God the Father in Essence, Character, and Nature. Since Christ previously existed as the Eternal Word of God in (John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God. Prior to his Incarnation (John 1:14) And the Word was Made Flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

     As such shared the Father Prerogatives and Attributes. Therefore, he had NO desire for what was his by Nature and Inheritance.  Christ "All the fullness of the Deity in the Flesh" (Col 2:9).  The great God and our Savior

(Titus 2:13) and God (Hebrews 1: 8-10) But unto the Son God the Father saith, "Thy throne, O GOD, is forever and ever... and thou LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, and the Heavens are the works of thine (Christ's) hands."                

           2.  Jesus Christ is revealed as JHVH (Jehovah) God the Son in Human Form.  (John 10:31-33) Then the Jews took up stones to stone him.  The Jews answered him, saying, "For good works we stone thee not, but for BLASPHEMY! And because that thou, being a MAN, makest thyself God."

             Hebrew's law on these points state five cases in which STONING was legal, and bear in mind that the Jews were Legalists.

            1.  Familiar spirits (wizards). Leviticus 20:27

            2. Blasphemy. Leviticus 24:10-23

            3.  False prophets. Deut. 13:5-10 

            4.  Stubborn son. Deut. 21:18-21

            5.  Adultery and Rape. Deut. 22:21-24

The Jews wanted to stone Jesus for the Second violation namely Blasphemy! (John 8:56-59) Jesus said to the Jews "Your father Abraham, rejoices to see my day and he Saw it and was Glad."  Then said the Jews unto him, "Thou art NOT yet fifty years old, and has thou seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Verily, Verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was I AM"  Then they took up stones to cast at him.

Here Jesus told them HE was the I AM (JWHV) God who talked to Abraham and appeared to Moses in the Old Testament. Let us see if Jesus was telling the truth.

(Gen 19:1-29) As recorded in Genesis, chapter 18, Abraham had three visitors two of them were angels.  But the Third He addressed as JWHV (Jehovah) God, (14 times). Abraham's Third visitor stayed and conversed with him and then departed.  (Gen 18:21) Jehovah God was saying concerning Sodom "I will go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry which has come to me, if not, I will know."  So, the Lord came down and when He had finished speaking to Abraham, Abraham returned to his place.

(John 4:24; 5:37)  "No man has seen God (the Father) at any time, the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he has revealed Him.  (John 1:18)  Jesus Himself said concerning His Father "... You have NOT, at any time, either heard His Voice, or Seen His form, for God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in Truth.  "Who did Abraham See and Talk to? Christ!  Himself as Jehovah God."

(Exodus 3: 13-14) Moses said to God, "What is your name? " and God said unto Moses, "I AM that I AM...thou shall say to the Children of Israel I AM that sent you." (Exodus 6:2-3) And God spoke unto Moses and said unto him, "I AM the LORD and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by my name of God Almighty; but by the name of Jehovah was I NOT known to them.

(Corinthians 10:1-4) All of our fathers were under the cloud, and ALL passed through the sea, all were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and the in the Sea; for they all drank that spiritual ROCK! That followed them, and that ROCK was Christ!

(I Peter 1:10-11) Of which Salvation of the prophets inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ shall come.    Who was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the Suffering of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  YHWH name of God (Jehovah, Lord) revealed Himself as Jesus in human form:  

          1. (Isa. 48:12) The Lord says, "I AM the First, I also AM the Last"

         2. (Rev.1: 8,17-18) Jesus said, "I AM the Alpha, Omega. Beginning and Ending. The Almighty God."

         1. (Isa. 7:14) The Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel. 

         2.  (Matthew 1:21-23) Mary brought forth a son, and his name was Jesus.  For He shall save his people from their sins... they call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God is with us.

           3. (John 1:1-3) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. (John 1:14) And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelled among us, full of Grace and Truth.

            1.  (Isa. 43:10-11) I Am the Lord beside me there is NO Savior.

            2. (Acts 4: 10-12) ... By the name of Jesus Christ, whereby we must be saved. (Rev. 5: 1-4) Christ the Lamb of God was the only worthy Person to redeem all people through His Blood.

           1.  (Isa. 45: 21-23) The Lord said, "Look unto me and be saved". (Philippians 2: 9-11) Every Knee should bow and confess Christ is the Lord. (Hebrews 13:8) Jesus Christ the same Yesterday, Today and Forever.

           1. (Acts 7:37-38) Christ was in the Wilderness and guide them in the Old Testament. (Micah 5:2) But thou, Bethlehem, who goings forth has been from of OLD, and Everlasting.

           2. (Daniel 7:9) Daniel beheld the Ancient of days, sits on the throne, whose garment was white as the snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool. (Revelation 1:10-18) Jesus Christ spoke to John "the Son of man, clothed with a garment with golden girdle." His head and his hairs were like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire.

The Deity of Christ is one of Cornerstones of Christianity.

Old Testament scripture tells us the Lord of Hosts, has revealed His Plan to appear in human form and has fulfilled many prophecies coming this Miracle in the Person of Jesus Christ!  Jehovah has kept his promises and did become Man literally "God with us."

     (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:32; John 1:14). Since there is No other God but Jehovah by His own declaration (Isa. 43:10-11).  Therefore, Jesus Christ and Jehovah Almighty God (the Son) are of the Same Substance in Power and Eternity hence Equal. (Micah 5:2) Recording Jehovah's word gives not only the birthplace of Christ (city of David, Bethlehem), but He gives a clue to His identity-namely God in human form.

        (Isa. 9:6) is one of the most Powerful verses in the Old Testament in Proving the Deity of Christ and incontestably declares the Jehovah God Himself planned to appear in human form. There is Only One True and Mighty God. (Isa. 45:22) The overwhelming testimony of these verses alone determine beyond reasonable doubt the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, who became Man, identified Himself with us in that incarnation, and Offered Himself  "Once and for ALL" a Ransom for many, the eternal sacrifice who is able to save to the utter most will appropriate His cleansing power.

(John 13:18-19) Jesus spoke to his disciples saying, "I know whom I have chosen, but that the scriptures may be fulfilled.  He that eatest bread with me has lifted his heel against me.  Now I tell you before it comes to pass, ye may believe that I AM He!"

           The meaning of the Phrase "I AM He" in the sense of Full Deity, especially clear here where Jesus says that He has told them Things before they came to pass, that when they did come to pass the disciples may believe that Ego Eimi (I AM). Jehovah is the Only One who knows the future and present fact. That He is the YHWH! (Jehovah, LORD)

Jesus and Jehovah God (the Son) are of the same substance, hence Coexist, Coequal, and CO-eternal, in short One Nature in its fullest sense.

     ~~~~ "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:48-57).

Jesus analysis was utterly devastating. Unable to argue with Jesus, the Jews tried to discredit Him. They claimed that Jesus must be Samaritian (half Gentile/Jew) pretending to be a Jew. And what's more, He must be demon-possessed.

         The Leaders jumped on this statement. Abraham was dead. The prophets are dead. Was Jesus making himself out to be greater than these dead heroes of faith?

         Jesus answered that Abraham had rejoiced and see His day and was glad. The Jews quickly pointed to this statement as an obviously false note in Jesus' teachings. Jesus wasn't 50 years old. How could Abraham, who had died nearly 2,000 years before Jesus was born, have seen Jesus' days?

      ~~~~~ Christ's answered was Simple! decisive, and totally consistent with Everything! He had been saying. " Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was I AM" (Verse 58). Those captialized letters tell us exactly what Christ was saying.

        The Old Testament's personal name of God, Yahweh, was constructed on the Hebrew verb "to be," and is often translated " I AM. " How could Abraham have seen Jesus day? Yes, Abraham had died long before Jesus was born. But Jesus Existed! long before Abraham lived! for Jesus was the Great I AM that I AM, Yahweh/Jehovah Himself, the God the Jews assumed they worshiped, come in the flesh to LIVE among them.

        And rather than worship Him, the Jews picked up stones intending to kill Him. There was no mistake. Jesus presented Himself to His own people as God the Son Yahweh/Jehovah. And their reaction to the Savior revealed that this generation had no place in the family of God.