The Divinity of Jesus Christ

  "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30)

Westminster Larger Catechism

Question 11: How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father? A. The scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto them such names, attributes, works, and worship, as are proper to God only.

Introduction

There are some who claim the Bible does not teach that Jesus is the living and true God. But this is not true. The Bible clearly and abundantly teaches Jesus is God by ascribing to him the names, titles, attributes, works and worship that only apply to God.

Names and Titles of God applied to Jesus

  • He is called God

David calls him God

"Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Psalm 45:6 )

Doubting Thomas calls him God

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God”. (John 20:28)

Thomas said these Words after seeing the resurrected Lord and placing his fingers in the nail prints. Instead of rebuking Thomas for his confession of faith in Jesus as his God, Jesus said:

“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”( John 20:29)

The Apostle John calls Jesus “the true God.”

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)

John teaches that we are in God by being in Christ because Jesus is the true God our source of eternal life

In the Gospel written by the Apostle John he declares the deity of Christ at the very beginning.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

The “Word” is John’s title for the eternal Son of God before He entered into His creation. John teaches that the “Word” was both with God and was God. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that the living and true God exists as three persons and yet as one being.  (See: The Trinity Explained)

The Word is one person of the triune God. He is both with God and yet of the exact same uncreated substance (essence) as God the Father, so he is also God.

The Prophet Isaiah applies the title of “mighty God” to the Christ Child.

“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.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Throughout all of scripture the title “might God” only applies to the living and true God.

“Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.” (Deuteronomy 7:21)

“The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.” (Psalm 50:1)

“How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;” (Psalm 132:2”

“Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.” (Psalm 132:5)

Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, (Jeremiah 32:18)

“Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction”. (Habakkuk 1:12)

According to “Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon and Thayer's Greek Definitions, the Hebrew word “abiyr {aw-beer'}”, translated “mighty”, is only used in sacred scripture to refer to the living and true God (Jehovah).

Jesus is called Immanuel

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”. (Isaiah 7:14)

Letting scripture interpret scripture for us, we learn that the name Immanuel means “God with us”.

“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.” (Matthew 1:23)

  • Jesus is called the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End

The title Alpha and Omega, means first and the last. Alpha being the first letter in the Greek alphabet and Omega being the last letter.

The title “first and last’ is the title Jehovah, the living and true God, applies to himself.

 "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." (Isaiah 44:6)

God takes this title because He is the beginning and the end of all creation

This title is also applied to Jesus, the eternal Word, the Eternal Son of God.

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Revelation 22:13)

" I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

“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: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” (Revelation 1:17)

“He that liveth, but was dead” is a clear reference to Jesus, his crucifixion and his resurrection. Notice Jesus is called the first and the last, which is a title applied to God.

  • Jesus calls himself the “I am”

God tells Moses to call Him “I AM”

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:14 )

Jesus calls himself the “I AM”.

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." (John 8:56 )

Jesus does not say “before Abraham I was” He says before Abraham was, “I AM”.

He was claiming to be God.

The Jews understood his meaning; they took up stones to stone him

“Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (John 8:59)

The Attributes of God are applied to Jesus

  • Eternal (without beginning or ending)

The Apostle John teaches that the Word (Jesus before he took to himself a human nature) existed before all things that were created.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)

“All made things were made” by Jesus. Not a single made thing was made by any other then Jesus.

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made”

Jesus therefor was not made. He is not included in the “all things that were made.”

This means that the Word (Jesus) is uncreated and eternal.

  • Omnipresence (everywhere present)

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

“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.” (Matthew 28:20)

  • Omnipotent (all powerful)

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 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” (Hebrews 1:2-3)

When Stephen was being martyred, he prayed to Jesus.

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-30)

For Jesus to hear and answer Stephen’s prayer, Jesus has to be omnipresent and omnipotent. He has to be able to hear and have the power to grant the request.

  • Omniscient (all knowing)

“But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. “(John 2:24)

“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3)

  • All attributes of God are in Christ

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)

According to “Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon and Thayer's Greek Definitions, “theotes” {theh-ot'-ace}, translated “Godhead”, means 1) deity 1a) the state of being God.

“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” (Colossians 1:19)

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 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;” (Hebrews 1:2)

The glory of God refers to all of God’s divine attributes, character, and abilities. That glory dwelt in Christ. Jesus was of the same divine essence as the Father, sharing equally all of the divine attributes, character and abilities of that divine nature.

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (Corinthians 5:19)

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

  • Jesus declares his oneness with God the Father

“I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30)

Jesus means he is one in nature with the God the Father.

“But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.” (John 10:38)

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” (John 14:10)

Jesus reasons that we can know he is of the same essence as God the Father because he does the works that only God can do. The “Word” (Christ) equally shares the divine essence and thus shares all of the divine attributes, abilities, and character. What God the Father can do, God the Son can do.

"11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” (John 14:10)

  • Jesus is called the "Only begotten of the father"

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

The Word of God is one with God the Father. He is one in essence. The title “the only begotten” implies the union of the Word with the Father in their one divine essence.

Jesus is the only begotten of the Father. He is not created, he is begotten. He is also the ONLY one who is thus begotten. Angels and man are created not begotten. When Eve begot a child, that child was of the same human nature as the parents. Christ is begotten of the Father and uniquely shares the divine essence. However, the essence of God is eternal and uncreated. For Christ to be of this eternal nature, he too must be uncreated, without beginning, eternal. This is why Jesus is commonly called the "Eternally Begotten Son of God."

Finally, there are not two eternal uncreated divine essences. There is only one essence, equally shared by the Father Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Works of God attributed to Jesus

  • Creator and Sustainer of the Universe

Creation of all things is exclusively the work of the living and true God.

The Old Testament teachings that there is only one God and that God is the creator of all things.

“Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;” (Isaiah 44:24)

“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:18)

“Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.” (Isaiah 45:11-12)

The use of the phrase “even my hands” teaches that the living and true God was the active and exclusive force in creation of all things. No other being participated in the creation of all things. God did not command the creation of all things and another being do it. God alone is creator, sustainer and governor of all things.

“Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” (Jeremiah 32:17)

“I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.” (Jeremiah 27:5)

“Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?” (Isaiah 40:12)

“Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.” (Psalm 102:25)

The Bible also teaches that Jesus (the Word) is the creator and sustainer of all things.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 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;” (Hebrews 1:2-3)

“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: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17)

“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” (Ephesians 3:9)

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)

Scripture teaches that the only living and true God (Jehovah) created all things by himself. No other being helped him. Yet the Apostles teach that the Word (who became flesh) created all things. How is this apparent contradiction resolved?

Scripture itself provides the clear explanation. The Word created all things, and the Word was with God at the moment of creation, yet the Word was God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1)

This is the Doctrine of the Trinity (The Trinity Explained). The “Word” is the second person of the Godhead. The Godhead is one being. Not three gods. One God, three persons. The Godhead created all things through the second person of the Triune God.

“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” (Ephesians 3:9)

This doctrine is also taught in the Old Testament, though it is not as clear as the New Testament teaching.

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6)

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” (Genesis 1:1-3)

In the beginning the Word that was with God and was God created all things.

  • Jesus providentially preserves the redeemed

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God" (John 10:28 )

God providentially preserves the redeemed. “No man can pluck them out of my Father’s hand. Jesus does the same work as God, providentially preserves the redeemed. “No man can pluck them out of my hand” The conclusion of Jesus’ argument is that because he does the works only God can do, he must be God.

The Jewish leaders understood him.

“33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God”

  • Jesus Judges the World

The Bible clearly teaches that the living and true God will judge all mankind.

“But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.” (Psalm 9:7)

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.” (Psalm 96:11)

“With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.” (Psalm 98:6)

The Bible also teaches that Jesus will do this work of God.

“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:10)

Notice that Paul teaches that Jesus’ judgment is God’s judgment.

“12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

The conclusion of the matter

“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” (John 14: 8)

Jesus does the works of God because Jesus is God. He is the Word, the second person of the Godhead, made flesh.

Worship due to God alone directed to Jesus

When Stephen was being martyred, he prayed to Jesus.

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-30)

Prayer is an ordinance of worship that should be only direct to God. It stands to reason that pray must be directed to God because only God has the attributes of Omnipresence and Omnipotence to hear and answer prayer.

Quoting Psalm 97:7 Paul points out that God the Father commands the Angels to worship the eternal Son.

“And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” (Hebrews 1:6)

A Necessary Belief

Those who have saving faith will believe that Jesus is the living and true God.’

In fact, those who have saving faith will believe to be true whatsoever the Bible teaches, especially what it teaches about Jesus.

We have already learned that the works of God that Jesus performed revealed that he is God.

“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” (John 14: 11)

When Thomas became a believer he confessed that Jesus is his God.

“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”. (John 20:27-29)

Jesus says blessed are those that believe that He is both "Lord and God" without out physically seeing Jesus.

That God is in Christ reconciling the World to himself is part of the Gospel message.

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18)

The object of saving faith is the person and work of Christ as reveal in the Word of God.

Conclusion

We can know that Jesus is the living and true God because the Bible ascribes to Jesus the names, titles, attributes, works and worship that only properly apply to God.