The Deity of Christ.

The Deity of Christ

"The thought of an eternal God being born may seem to be a
contradiction of terms, but when one studies the God-man, the Lord
Jesus Christ, insurmountable evidence supporting this truth manifests
itself upon the pages of Holy Writ. The teachings of Christ's deity
must be an accepted truth if one is to enter the eternal home of the
redeemed. John, in his first epistle, makes this dogmatic assertion:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have
handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we
have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life,
which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us) (1 John 1:1,2).
There is no doubt that the One John saw, heard, and touched was that
Eternal Life which was with the Father. In chapter 2, verse 22, of
this same epistle, John goes on to say, Who is a liar but he that
denieth...the Father and the Son. When one denies that Christ is the
eternal One who came to earth clothed in human flesh, this skeptic or
doubter immediately is classified as a liar and an antichrist. Since
no liar or antichrist may enter the presence of God in that condition,
it is abundantly clear that the one who denies the eternity of Christ
is lost. In 1 John 4 another warning is presented. Beloved, believe
not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world. How does one
recognize the false prophets? Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of
God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist (verses
1-3). Since spirits refers to teachers or preachers, the apostle is
saying that preachers denying the doctrine of God coming in the flesh
are preachers or teachers possessed by the spirit of Antichrist. God
wrote it. I only quote it, but I believe it. Then John states in
chapter 5, verse 1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is
born of God. Messiah, translated Christus or Christ means "the Sent
One". Since He was sent from the Father, the conclusive proof is that
He already existed. If He preexisted His mission to earth, He did not
begin in Bethlehem's manger. The teaching of the Holy Bible is that He
eternally existed as God, the second member of the Trinity, and came
to earth to be clothed with a body containing blood so that He might
die for sinners. Is He really God? Did He really exist before His
birth upon earth? What does the Holy Spirit state in the Word of God?

Christ's deity in the Old Testament

Isaiah 9:6 states, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder. This prophet
speaks about Christ's incarnation and humanity in the phrase a child
is born and about His eternity and deity in the other phrase a son is
given. Incarnation comes from the Latin words in and carnis, meaning
"flesh" or "in the flesh". Thus, at this incarnation or coming in the
flesh, He was the child born. However, as the son given. He always
existed-uncreated and unborn.
Micah 5:2 states, Whose [His] goings forth have been from of old, from
everlasting. This again points to the uncreated, eternal Son of God.
Psalm 45:6: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of
thy kingdom is a right sceptre. This great Old Testament scripture,
addressed to God, is about the Lord Jesus Christ. Who said so? The
greatest authority in heaven and earth-Jehovah, the Father. Prove it?
I will! In Hebrews 1:8 we find Jehovah God of the Old Testament
speaking: Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and
ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Isn't
this fantastic? The Father calls Christ "God" for ever and ever.
Followers of Jehovah would be wise to listen to His voice and give
Christ the glory due His holy name. God had His Son with Him from all
eternity past. Christ was present when the human race was created. The
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were involved in Genesis 1:26 when God
said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. The pronouns
us and our speak of a plurality or trinity of personages. This same
Christ was present when the earth was formed and set into motion.
Proverbs 30:4: Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who
hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a
garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his
name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? The Son is
present in the Old Testament scriptures hundreds of years before His
human birth occurs in the New Testament. Rational, logical
contemplation makes one realize that He preexisted as God, the Son.

Christ's deity in the New Testament (The Trinity)

The title of "God" is given to our Saviour on numerous occasions.
Matthew 1:23 declares, 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. In the first chapter of John, Christ is
called "the Word." Verse 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
among us. The only member of the Trinity who became flesh was Christ.
Since the term Word is synonymous with Christ, as has just been
proven, let's put the term Christ in place of Word in John 1:1-3 and
see the results. In the beginning was [Christ], and [Christ] was with
God, and [Christ] was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All
things were made by [Christ]; and without [Christ] was not any thing
made that was made. John 1:10 states, He [Christ] was in the world,
and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. Now we have
just heard from the Author of this book, the Holy Spirit, who said
that Christ was from the beginning, that He was God, and that He
created the world. Yes, Christ shared this creative ministry with the
Father and Holy Spirit. This is so because all three members of the
one Godhead always existed. To prove that the Holy Spirit was also
present at the time of creation, one need only study Genesis 1:1,2. In
the beginning God [this is the plural noun Elohim, meaning "more than
one"] created the heaven and the earth. 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. The combining of John
1:10 and Genesis 1:1,2 proves conclusively that the entire Trinity was
present at the creation of the world. Some scoff at the teaching of a
Trinity. They say, "The word Trinity is not found in the Bible, so
there can't be such a doctrine." Well, the word Bible is not found in
the Bible either, but I guarantee that there is such a book-and the
teaching of the Trinity is found repeatedly throughout God's Word. Man
has given the title "Trinity" to the doctrine because the meaning of
the word is "three." Since there are three- Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit-"Trinity" is a properly designated theological term. Let's
continue our search of the scriptures concerning the deity of Christ.
The Philippian jailor cried out in Acts 16:30, Sirs, what must I do to
be saved? Paul and Silas replied, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shall be saved, and thy house (verse 31). The entire family
made a commitment to this Christ and verse 34 finds them rejoicing.
Why? Because they believed in God with all their house. Here is
unequivocal proof that Christ is God. Compare the two verses again.
Acts 16:31: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
and thy house. Verse 34 says he believed in God- the Christ of verse
31. Again we see the truth in Romans 9:5 which states, Christ came,
who is over all, God blessed for ever. First Timothy 3:16 declares,
Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, and
Hebrews 1:8 says, But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for
ever and ever. This is Jehovah God telling the world that His Son is
God. Never mind the book peddlers who run from door to door with their
teaching of Christ being an inferior God, a little created God. Some
even call Him Michael, the archangel. Jehovah knows everything for He
is omniscient and all-wise, and He calls Jesus "God." I say with Paul
in Romans 3:4, Let God be true, but every man a liar.

Christ's Deity through a comparison of Old and New Testament texts

Perhaps the most interesting and exciting proof of Christ's deity is
discovered when one compares the statements of God in the Old
Testament with His revealed truth in the New. For example, in Isaiah
42:8, God states, I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I
not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Since Jehovah
will not give His glory to another but is willing to share it with
Christ, it is only logically deductible to say that they must be one
and coequal. The sharing of this glory takes place when God's people
lay their crowns at the feet of the Saviour in Revelation 4:11,
saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and
power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are
and were created Again the King of glory is Jehovah in Psalm 24:10.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
The noun LORD in this text is the Hebrew word Jehovah, the name of the
Father. However, when one examines 1 Corinthians 2:8, he discovers
that the Lord of glory was crucified. Thus Christ is also called the
Lord of glory. Will you Bible manipulators tell me how there can be
two Lords of glory, coequal, if there is no Trinity? Once again Isaiah
9:6 calls the child born and the son given, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father. If these are titles of the Son, how many mighty
Gods and everlasting Fathers are there? The answer is one because of
the unity and oneness of the Trinity. Jesus said, I and my Father are
one (John 10:30). Psalm 10:16 says, The LORD [Jehovah] is King for
ever and ever. Again we have problems if there is no Trinity because
we now have two kings. When one studies Revelation 19:11,16, he finds
that Christ, the King of kings, comes to set up His kingdom upon this
earth. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that
sat upon him was called Faithful and True. Verse 16: And he hath on
his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD
OF LORDS. This constant reiteration of identical names and titles for
both Father and Son can mean only one thing to honest, searching
hearts. It is that Christ is God, coequal with the Father and Holy
Spirit. Deuteronomy 32:39 states, There is no god [but Jehovah] and
yet 1 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God was made manifest [came] in the
flesh. The only solution is the doctrine of the Triune God which the
saints of all ages have proclaimed. The only groups in the annals of
history that ever fought this precious truth were rebel-rousing
heretics. Mr. Scoffer, you who would make Christ but a mere man, what
will you do with Jonah 2:9? Salvation is of the LORD. Or Isaiah 43:11
which says, I, even I, am the LORD [Jehovah]; and beside me there is
no saviour. If there is no other Saviour but Jehovah, and Christ is
called "the Saviour" scores of times in the Bible, then He and the
Father must be one or there are two Saviours. Christ is the God who
left the bosom of the Father to die on Calvary's cross. There He shed
the pure sinless blood that coursed through His veins so that sinners
might be eternally saved. The Bible teaches that He is the only
Saviour. Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there
is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved. Since both Jehovah and Christ are called "Saviour," let's
believe that the Trinity alone presents the answer.

Christ was incarnated, not created

There are those who teach that the Father always existed and that
Christ was created. Perish the thought! Christ always existed and was
not created. Isaiah 43:10 states, Before me there was no God formed,
neither shall there be after me. In simple English, no God was created
before or after Jehovah. They coexisted as a Trinity eternally. Thus
Christ was from all eternity or He wasn't. Either He always existed or
He didn't. Since no God was created before or after Jehovah, we take
Micah 5:2 for what it says about the One who was to come to earth and
experience a human birth. He was from of old, from everlasting. Thus,
His human birth was not His creation. Rather, as we discussed earlier
in this chapter, the word incarnation comes from the Latin words in
and carnis, meaning "in the flesh." An eternal God having a birth is
not contradictory. In eternity He was God. To become a man, a birth
had to occur. None of us can become another species without the
miracle of a birth. God had to become incarnated (become flesh) so
that He could shed the pure, sinless blood that flowed in His veins.
The miracle of the Holy Spirit's insemination of the virgin Mary's ova
and womb with the body and blood of God the Son made this shedding of
blood possible. This was a necessity because the blood of animals
could not take away sin, only cover the sinner's transgression.
Hebrews 10:4 states, For it is not possible that the blood of bulls
and of goats should take away sins. So verse 5 has Christ saying, A
body hast thou prepared me. God lived in that body, went to the cross
in that body, shed the blood in that body to take away the sins that
had only been covered, died in that body, arose three days later in
that same body, ascended to heaven in that body, and will throughout
eternity live in that body in which He had the birth. For in him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). There
it is. The eternal God left heaven to be born into human flesh because
a body could contain sinless blood through a virgin birth. That blood
was shed for sins and can wash you from every stain and taint of this
world's defilement when you put your trust in the God in whom the
Philippian jailor trusted, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do it today."

Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. In invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

God bless you.

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