Deity of Christ

From Encyclopedia Reformata

The truth that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the only true God, One in Whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. The Bible represents Christ as a Person having two natures, the one divine and the other human. This is the great mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3:16a.

Since many deny the deity of Christ, it is necessary to stress the Scripture proof for it. Some old Testament passages clearly point to it, such as Isa. 9:6; Jer. 23:6; Micah 5:2; Mal. 3:1. The New Testament proofs are even more abundant, Matt. 11:27; 16:16; 26:63, 64; John 1:1, 18; Rom. 9:5; 1 Cor. 2:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 2:6; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:1–3; Rev. 19:16. There is today a widespread denial of the divinity or, more specifically, the deity of Christ. And yet this is clearly taught in Scripture. Even the Old Testament affords proof for it in its predictions of the coming Messiah, Isa. 9:6; Jer. 23:6; Dan. 7:13; Micah 5:2; Zech. 13:7; Mal. 3:1. The New Testament proofs for it are even more abundant. It is a well known fact that the Gospel of John presents the most exalted view of Christ in such passages as John 1:1–3, 14, 18, 25–27; 11:41–44; 20:28. But it is not generally recognized that the picture presented by the other Gospels is in full accord with that of John, and yet this is true. Notice particularly the following passages: Matt. 5:17; 9:6; 11: 1–6, 27; 14:33; 16:16; 25:31 ff.; 28:18; Mark 8: 38, and many others. Again, we have the very same representation of Christ in the Pauline Epistles and in the Epistle to the Hebrews, Rom. 1:7; 9:5; I Cor. 1:1–3; 2:8; II Cor. 5:10; Gal. 2:20; 4:4; Phil. 2:6; Col. 2:9; I Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:1–3, 5, 8; 4:14; 5:8, and other passages.

Biblical References:

Isa. 9:6. “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, Mighty God, Everlasting. Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jer. 23:6. “In His days shall Judah be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is His name whereby He shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness.”

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

Rom. 9:5. “Whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever.”

Col. 2:9. “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”