The Person of Christ: Deity
How is Jesus fully God and fully man, yet one person?
- Jesus Christ was _________ God and _________ man in one person, and will be so forever.
- Direct Scriptural Claims
- The word “God” (Theos) is used of Christ.
- In the NT: John 1:1, 20:28; Romans 9:5, TItus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8, 2 Peter 1:1
- In the OT: Isaiah 9:6
- The word “Lord” (Kyrios) is used of Christ
- Equivalent of “Yahweh“, the unpronounceable name of God and LORD in the OT
- Other strong claims to deity
- “Before Abraham was, I AM” – John 8:57-58 – I AM (Exodus 3:14)
- “He was in the beginning with God” – John 1:1
- The word “God” (Theos) is used of Christ.
- Jesus possessed attributes of deity
- Jesus stills the storm with a word – Matthew 8:26-28
- Multiplied loaves and fishes – Matthew 14:19
- Changed water to wine John 2:1-11
- Jesus knows peoples thoughts – John 1:48, 6:46
- He is everywhere – Matthew 28:20
- He could forgive sins – Mark 2:5-7
- He is immortal – John 10:17-18
- Why was Jesus’ deity necessary?
- Only someone who is infinite God could bear the full penalty for all the sins of all those who would believe in him
- Salvation is from the Lord – Jonah 2:9
- Only someone who was truly and fully God could be the one mediator between God and man – 1 Timothy 2:5
- Christ’s Deity and Humanity together
- He ascended into heaven (John 26:28) and is present everywhere (Matthew 18:20)
- Jesus was thirty three years old (Luke 3:23) but has existed eternally (John 1:1-2)
- Jesus was weak and tired (Matthew 4:2) but omnipotent (Matthew 8:26-27)
- He died (Luke 23:46), but did not die (John 2:19).
- He had a human will (Matthew 26:39) and a divine will.
Application
- Is there anything you understand more fully about the deity of Jesus?
- Describe what the disciples must have felt like as they came to a growing realization of who Jesus actually was.
- Do you ever think that the Jesus of the Bible is always with you, even right now? – Matt. 18:20
- What in your life might change if you lived like He was always with you?