Studies on Modern Issues

CHRIST’S ATTRIBUTES PROVE HIM TO BE DIVINE

He Is Eternal

Pre-existence

John 17:5 – He shared glory with the Father before the world was created. (John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word…”)

John 6:38 – He came down from heaven (He was IN heaven before the incarnation) [John 3:16,17,31; 7:29; 8:42] (see also Col 1:17 – he was creator, therefore, he existed before creation)

John 8:58 – Before Abraham was “I am.”

John 3:12-13 – He was still in heaven during the incarnation

Pre-existence is also seen in His pre-incarnate appearances

Eternal existence

Micah 5:2 – from everlasting

Merril Unger: “Of old, from everlasting is to be translated “the days of eternity ” and the terms convey the strongest assertion of infinite duration of which the Hebrew language is capable…”

Isa.9:6 – The “Son” is called the “everlasting father” = the father of eternity.

John 8:58 – Before Abraham was “I am” (not “I was”) – indicates the timelessness of His Person.

He Is Omnipotent

John 1:3 – all things were made by Him

Luke 8:25 – the wind and the waves obey Him

Matt.8:14-15 – power to raise the dead

Matt.8:16 – power over all sickness & demons

Matt.12:25-29 – power over Satan and his hosts

Matt.28:18 – all power is given unto Him (authority over all)
“power” here indicates both ability and authority

He Is Omnipresent

John 14:20,23 – Christ dwells in every believer

Mark 16:19 – Yet He is at God’s right hand!

Matt.18:20 – He is wherever two or three gather

He Is Omniscient

Rev.2:23 cf. Jer.17:10 – Words describing the omniscience of God are ascribed to Christ [The “I” of this section is the Son of Man in 1:13-18]

John 2:24-25 – Jesus knew what was in man (the word “man” was added by the translators)

John 6:64 – Jesus knew who believed not

John 10:15 – He knows the Father to the same degree that the Father knows Him—infinitely!

John 16:30 – We are sure that thou knowest all things!

John 18:4 – Jesus, knowing all things that were to come upon Him…

John 21:17 – thou knowest all things

He Is Immutable

Heb.1:10-12 – Christ changes not

Heb.13:8 – Jesus is the same…compare with:

Mal.3:6 – I am the Lord; I change not

Every attribute of the Father belongs to the Son (John 16:15)

CHRIST’S WORKS PROVE HIM TO BE DIVINE

He is Creator

John 1:3, Col 1:16-17, Heb 1:2,10

He Is the Preserver of the Universe

Hebrews 1:3

He is the Savior

Isa.43:11 GOD is Savior (cf. I Tim.4:10) He is the Savior

I John 4:14 CHRIST is Savior

Rom.6:23 – eternal life is the gift of GOD

John 10:28 – Jesus is the Giver of eternal life!

Titus 2:13 – He is the great God and Savior (Great God = Our Savior because two nouns followed by a definite article means they refer to the same thing)

He Forgives Sin

Mark 2:5-10 – Only God can forgive sin, and Christ forgives sin here

He Answers Prayer

John 14:14 “I will do it”

He Has the Power to Raise the Dead

John 5:21- the power wasn’t granted to Christ, it is His, because He does it to ‘whomsoever he will’ (John 11:25)

He Is the Judge of All Men

John 5:22,27 vs. Psalm 50:6

CHRIST’S TITLES PROVE HIM TO BE DIVINE

God

Isa.9:6 – the mighty God (vs. Isaiah 10:21 and Deuteronomy 10:17)

John 1:1 – the Word was God

Jehovah’s Witnesses translate this: “the Word was a god.” Even if this were a correct translation, there is only ONE true God (John 17:3) and only ONE wise God (Jude 25)

John 20:24-28,31 – He is called “My Lord and my God” and accepted it

Romans 9:5 – who is over all, God!

I John 5:20 – He is called the true God!

Titus 2:13 – He is called the Great God

Lord (Romans 10:9)

Alpha & Omega (Rev 1:8)

First & Last (Isaiah 44:6) “…and beside me, there is no God”

I AM (John 8:58 vs. Exodus 3:14; also, John 8:28 – “he” was added by the translators)

The Holy One (Acts 3:14-15)

Lord of Glory (I Cor 2:8 vs Psalm 24:7-10)

HIS EQUALITY WITH JEHOVAH PROVES HIM TO BE DIVINE

The Old Testament clearly reveals that Jehovah is the exclusive name of Deity.

Ex.3:13-15 How God revealed Himself to Israel

Ps.83:18 – Thou whose name ALONE is Jehovah

Isa.42:5,8; 45:5-7 – Jehovah shares this glory with no one else!

Jesus Christ is Jehovah-God

Zech.12:10 – An obvious reference to Christ (vs. John 19:34-37)

Cf. 12:1,4 – Jehovah is speaking!

Isa.44:6 – Jehovah is the “First and the Last”

Jehovah = the King of Israel and the Redeemer!

Jesus is the Redeemer (Eph.1:7; Heb.9:12)

Jesus is the King of Israel – (John 12:13-16)

Jesus is the First & Last; Jehovah! – (Rev.1:8,11,17-18; 22:13)

Isa.6:5 – Isa. saw the King – Jehovah of hosts

Cf. John 12:41 – John says it was Christ’s glory he saw!

Ps.23:1 – Jehovah is the Great Shepherd of the sheep

Cf. John 10:11,14; Heb.13:20 – Jesus is the Great Shepherd!

Deut.32:3-4,18; Ps.18:2; 62:1-2 – Jehovah is Israel’s Rock

Cf. I Cor.10:4 – Christ was that Rock!

Isa.43:10-11; 45:21,22 – Jehovah is the only Savior

Acts 4:12 – Jesus Christ is the only Savior

Isa.45:23 – Every knee shall bow to Jehovah God

Phil.2:9-11 – Every knee shall bow to Jesus Christ!

Isa.24:23; Zeph.3:15-17 – Jehovah is the King who will reign in Jerusalem in the Kingdom.

Rev.19:11-16; 20:4-6 – Jesus is that King!

Isa.40:3 – the forerunner prepares the way of Jehovah God.

Mark 1:1-3 – Mark interprets that to refer to John the Baptist paving the way for Jesus!

Isa.8:13-14 – the stone of stumbling is Jehovah God

I Pet.2:7-8 – Peter applies that to Christ – the Stone of stumbling!

Joel 2:32 – Salvation/deliverance is promised to all who call upon the name of the Lord Jehovah!

Rom.10:13; Acts 2:21,36 – Salvation is promised for all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jer.23:5-6 – Jehovah is our Righteousness; the Branch

Christ is the Branch – Rev.5:5 – Root of David

Rev.22:16 – Root & offspring of David

Heb.7:14

Christ is our Righteousness – I Cor.1:30; II Cor.5:21

Other related passages equating Jesus with GOD

Col.1:15 – He is the image of the invisible God

Col.2:9 – in Him dwells ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily

Heb.1:3 – He is the express image of the Father

John 5:23 – honor the Son AS one honors the Father

John 10:30 – I and my Father are one

John 14:8-9 – to know the Son = knowing God

John 14:9 – to see the Son = seeing God

HIS ACCEPTANCE OF WORSHIP SUPPORTS HIS DEITY

Holy angels refused worship (Rev.19:10; 22:9)

Holy men of God refused worship (Acts 10:25-26)

Christ received worship

Angels – Heb.1:6; Rev,5L8

Thomas – John 20:28

Apostles – Matt.14:31-33

Woman from Canaan – Matt.15:25-28

Man born blind – John 9:35-39

After resurrection – Matt.28:9

All men – Phil.2:10-11

John 5:23 – He is to be honored AS the Father is honored.

(Material compiled from various resources including Chafer’s Systematic Theology, Walvoord’s Jesus Christ our Lord, Ryrie’s Basic Theology)