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WHY JESUS IS
> JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE...
HE WAS
(and still is) WORSHIPED AS GOD
1.
As a Baby:
“Where
is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the East and
have come to WORSHIP Him.”
(Testimony of the Wise Men in
Matthew 2:2)
10.
“...looking for the blessed hope
and the appearing of the glory of our GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, Christ Jesus.”
(Titus
2:13)
11. “...that...Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.” (1 Timothy 1:16b & 17)
> JESUS IS GOD
BECAUSE...
HE SAYS
HE IS THE “I AM” WHO
PRE-EXISTED
BEFORE ABRAHAM 12. “The Jews therefore said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them ‘Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.’” (John 8:57 & 58) Now compare Exodus 3:2-14. > JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE... JESUS CLAIMED TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD AND THE JEWS ACCUSED HIM OF CLAIMING THAT HE WAS GOD
13.
“For this cause therefore the
Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him,
because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His Own Father, MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD.” (John 5:18) 14. “I and the Father are one. The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?’ The Jews answered Him, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out TO BE GOD.’” (John 10:30) Compare with Leviticus 24:16. Jesus was crucified by the Jews for blasphemy. It was clear to the Jews therefore that Jesus did say things that made Him God. > JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE... THE APOSTLE PETER SAID SO
15.
“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and
apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind
as ours, by the righteousness OF OUR
GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.” (1 Peter 1:1) > JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE... THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID SO
16. “Be on guard for yourselves and
for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers, to shepherd
the church of GOD WHICH HE
PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.” (Acts 20:28) > JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE... HE PRE-EXISTED IN THE FORM OF GOD 17. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed IN THE FORM OF GOD did not regard EQUALITY with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant.” (Philippians 2:5-7) > JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE... HE IS THE VERY IMAGE OF GOD, THE EXACT REPRESENTATION OF GOD
18.
“And He is the image of the
invisible God...”
(Colossians
1:15)
“And He is the radiance of His
glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds
all things by the word of His
power.”
(Hebrews
1:3)
> JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE...
ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SINS AND JESUS FORGIVES SINS 19. “And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven.’ But there were some of the Scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why does this Man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but GOD ALONE?’” (Mark 2:5-7) > JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE... THE APOSTLE JOHN SAID SO
20.
“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word
WAS GOD.”
(John
1:1)
> JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE... HE IS THE CREATOR
21. “For by Him all things were
created...all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all
things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the
church and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He
Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good
pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him.”
(Colossians
1:15-19) (A careful study of the context from
verse 13-20 reveals the subject being talked about is Jesus
as Creator.)
> JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE...
HE POSSESSES THE FULLNESS OF DEITY IN HIMSELF
22.
“See to it that no one takes you
captive through philosophy and empty
deception, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. FOR IN HIM ALL THE FULLNESS OF DEITY DWELLS IN BODILY FORM.” (Colossians 2:8 & 9)
> JESUS IS GOD
BECAUSE...
GOD THE FATHER CALLS JESUS “GOD”
23.
“But of the Son He says, ‘Thy
Throne, O GOD, is forever and ever.’”
(Hebrews
1:8)
24. “Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore GOD (the Son), Thy GOD (the Father), hath anointed Thee...” (Hebrews 1:9) > JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE... HE EXISTED WITH GOD IN HEAVEN BEFORE THE WORLD EVER WAS, AND BEFORE MAN WAS EVER CREATED ON EARTH
25.
“And now, glorify Thou Me
together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the
world was.”
(John
17:5)
> JESUS IS GOD BECAUSE...
HE MADE THE WORLD 26. “God...in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” (Hebrews 1:1 & 2) THE REASON WHY JESUS IS GOD, IS BECAUSE GOD THE FATHER REQUIRED A PERSON OF EQUAL STATURE AS HIMSELF (God the Son) TO PAY FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD. NO HUMAN BEING CAN PAY FOR HIS OWN SINS, SINCE HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT EQUAL TO GOD. EVEN ADAM, WHO HAD BEEN A PERFECT MAN, WAS UNABLE TO PAY FOR THE SINS OF OTHERS. JESUS WAS A PERFECT MAN AND PERFECT GOD. ONLY JESUS, THEREFORE CAN SAVE SINNERS. “He who believes in the Son HAS eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the WRATH of God abides on him.” (John 3:36) A. Jesus: Gives eternal life - John 17:2 Gives peace - John 14:27; 16:33; Romans 15:33 Upholds all things - Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3
B. Divine Attributes
1. Self-existence - John 2:19; 5:26; 10:17 & 18 2. Eternal - 1 John 1:2; 17:5 & 24 3. Omnipresence - Matthew 18:20; 28:20; John 3:13; Ephesians 1:21 4. Omniscience - Matthew 9:4; 12;25; Mark 2:8; Luke 6:8; 9:47 5. Omnipotence - Matthew 28:18; Luke 21:15; John 1:3; 10:18 6. Unchangeable - Hebrews 1:11& 12; 13:8 7. Holiness - John 6:69; 8:46; Matthew 27:3 & 4; Luke 23:22, 41 8. Life - John 1:4; 11:25; 14:6
SOMETHING TO REMEMBER
Jesus was not only God, but God-Man.
The following verses help explain some proof texts:
1. Colossians 2:9 - Deity in bodily form (somatikos) 2. Hebrews 2:14-18 - shared humanity 3. Philippians 2:6-8 - Emptied self, took form of a man 1) EXPLICIT “DOCTRINAL” STATEMENTS A. Matthew 1:23 - “God with us” B. John 1:1, 18 - “The Word was God” C. Romans 9:5 - “God blessed forever” D. 1 Timothy 3:16 - “God in the flesh” E. Colossians 2:9 - “Fullness of the Godhead” F. Titus 2:13 - “God and Savior” G. James 2:1 - “Lord of Glory” H. 1 John 5:20 - “The true God” I. Isaiah 9:6 - “Mighty God” J. 2 Peter 1:1 - “God and Savior” K. Revelation 1:8, 17 & 18; 21:6 22:12-20 - “First and Last”
2) CALLED THE “IMAGE” OR
“FIRST-BORN” (NOT first-created)
A. Colossians 1:15 B. 2 Corinthians 4:4 C. Hebrews 1:3-6 D. Psalm 89:27 3) JESUS’ OWN CLAIMS A. John 5:17 & 18 - called God His Own Father B. John 10:30 - “I and the Father are One” C. Matthew 19:17 - “only One is good” D. John 16:15 - “all things the Father has are mine” E. John 8:24 & 58; 18:5 & 6; Mark 14:62 - “I AM” 4) JESUS SEPARATES HIMSELF FROM MANKIND A. Luke 11:13 - “You being evil” (not “we”) B. John 2:24 & 25 - did not trust Himself to man C. John 3:7 - “you must be born again” 5) WHAT CONTEMPORARIES THOUGHT OF JESUS A. His friends 1. Thomas (John 20:28) - “My God” 2. Paul (Acts 20:28) - God spent His Blood 3. Paul & Ananias (Acts 9:5 & 10; 15:17 along with Acts 22:12-22) Saul chosen by him/God B. His Father (Hebrews 1:8) - “Your throne, O God” C. Government 1. Pilate (John 19:19 & 22) - “King of the Jews” 2. Centurion (Luke 23:47) - “righteous” a. Mark 25:39 b. Matthew 27:54 - “Son of God” D. Enemies (John 5:18; 10:35; Mark 14:63) - The Jews understood Jesus claimed Deity by attempting to execute him many times 6) ETERNAL (PRE) EXISTENCE A. Micah 5:2 - “From the days of eternity” B. Isaiah 9:5 - “Father of eternity” C. John 1:1 & 2 - “In the beginning” D. John 1:15 - “He was before me” E. John 8:58 - “before Abraham” F. John 17:5 - “before the world” G. Revelation 1:8 - “Who is, was, is to come” 7) OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES REFERRING TO YHWH APPLIED SPECIFICALLY TO JESUS BY NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS A. Matthew 1:23 = Isaiah 7:14 - “God with us” B. Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:2 & 3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23; = Isaiah 40:3 - “Straighten Way of the Lord” C. Matthew 11:10 = Malachi 3:1 - messenger to clear the way D. Romans 10:13 = Joel 2:32 - believe on Him E. Philippians 2:10 = Isaiah 45:23 - knees bow to Him F. Hebrews 1:6 = Psalm 97:5 & 7 - worship Him G. Hebrews 1:8 = Psalm 45:6 - “Thy throne, O God” H. Hebrews 1:10-12 = Psalm 104:24-27 - made the heavens I. Revelation 1:7 = Zechariah 12:10 - the pierced One J. Revelation 13:3 & 4 = Deuteronomy 32:3 & 4 - song of Moses/ the Lamb 8) OLD TESTAMENT TITLES REFERRING TO YHWH APPLIED SPECIFICALLY TO JESUS BY NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS A. First and Last - Revelation 2:8; 22:13 & 16 = Isaiah 41:4; 44:6 B. “I AM” - John 8:24 & 58 = Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 43:10 C. Judge - 2 Timothy 4; Matthew 25:31-46 = Genesis 18:25 D. Light - John 1:9; 8:12 = Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19 E. Savior - Titus 3:4 & 6 = Isaiah 43:11; 45:21; 35:4 F. Rock - 1 Corinthians 10:4 = Isaiah 28;16; Psalm 78:35 G. Shepherd - John 10:11 & 16 = Psalm 23:1 H. Creator - Colossians 1:16; John 1:2 = Isaiah 44:24 I. King - Matthew 2:2; Acts 17:7 = Psalm 5:2; 24:10 J. Bridegroom - Mark 2:19; John 3:29; = Hosea 2;16; Isaiah 62:5 K. Healer - Acts 9:34 = Psalm 103:3 9) OTHER TITLES APPLIED TO JESUS CHRIST A. Jesus - “YHWH-saves” - Matthew 1:21 B. Lord - 1 Corinthians 12:3; John 13:13 C. Lord and Christ - Acts 2:36 D. Son of God - Luke 1:35; Matthew 16:16; Hebrews 1:5 E. Son of Man - Mark 2:28; 14;41 (note that most attributes tied directly to this title are explicitly God-like, not man-like) F. Judge - John 5:27; 6:62 G. “I AM” - John 8:24 & 48; 7:56 H. In Glory - Luke 9:26 I. On throne and will come - Mark 14:62 J. Forgives sins - Luke 5:24 K. Lord of Sabbath - Luke 5:6; Mark 2:28 L. Sends his angels - Matthew 13:41 10) PLACED ON PAR WITH THE FATHER (AND HOLY SPIRIT) A. Trinitarian Events/Formulas 1. Luke 1:35 - Incarnation 2. Matthew 3:16 - Baptism of Jesus 3. Matthew 28:19 - Baptism of believers 4. 2 Corinthians 13:14 - A blessing 5. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 - Gifts, service B. The Three Working Together 1. Ephesians 2:18 & 22 - Access to the Father/built into dwelling 2. Ephesians 3:14-17 - We are strengthened 3. Hebrews 2:3 & 4 - Word announced, testified to 4. Acts 3:26; John 2:19; 1 Peter 3:18 - Resurrection of Jesus 5. John 14:26; 15:25 - Jesus sends Holy Spirit from Father C. Parallels Between the Father and the Son 1. 1 John 5:23 - Honor Son, Honor Father 2. John 8:19 & 24 - Know Son, Know Father 3. John 14:1 - Trust in God, in Jesus 4. John 14:9 - See Jesus, See Father 5. Matthew 11:27 - Only Son knows the Father 6. 1 Corinthians 8:6 - Life for, through them 11) JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (barely a sampling) A. Isaiah 9:6 - Counselor, God, Father B. Isaiah 49:7 - Lord and His Holy One C. Psalm 110:1 - Lord said unto my Lord D. Zechariah 13:7 - My Shepherd and Associate 12) DIVINE ATTRIBUTES AND ACTIONS A. Divine Actions 1. Forgives Sin - Acts 5:31; Mark 2:5-10; Luke 5:20-24 2. Receives Worship - Matthew 14:33; Hebrews 1:6 (See Luke 4:8) 3. Receives Prayer - Acts 7:59; John 14:14; 2 Peter 3:18 4. Gives Life, Light - John 1:4; 11:25; 14:6 5. Origin, Heaven - John 3:13; 6:51 6. Will come on the clouds - 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Zechariah 14:4 & 5 7. Will raise all men - John 5:27-29 |
