Biblical Evidence for the Deity of Jesus Christ

All right, our email today comes to us from Lewis, actually from Switzerland. A gentleman by the name of Lewis is writing the email, and it is a short email.

In fact, let me go ahead and kill the email music here. And Lewis writes from Switzerland.

He says, hello, Chris. Greetings from Switzerland, okay. He says, it's snowing here, and you're about to probably answer the biggest question of my way into faith.

Is Jesus Christ God? If yes, where can I find it in the Bible exactly? And I don't mean the

I and the you and one stuff, okay. Says, thank you, your opinion is important to me.

Actually, I'm not gonna give you my opinion here, Lewis. I'm gonna show you what the scripture says, and I will show it to you using multiple passages and quite a few of them, so that at the end of this you will see in no uncertain terms that Jesus Christ is

God. Now, you gotta keep in mind, when we talk about Christ, the person of Christ, that he's both

God and man, but here the deity is the question that you're asking about, okay. So we're gonna take a look at several passages,

Old and New Testament, some clearer than others. And with that, we'll dive into it.

First and foremost, we'll look at Isaiah 7, verse 14. Isaiah 7, verse 14.

Now, this is a prophecy given by the prophet Isaiah regarding Christ, okay.

Here's what it says. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name

Immanuel. Okay, now this is significant. The reason why it's significant, the name

Immanuel is significant, is because that name in Hebrew means literally God with us.

Okay, and the reason this is significant is Isaiah is probably the most blatant and blunt of the

Old Testament prophets to the fact that there is only one God, okay. Jews were and continue to be staunch monotheists.

Now, they don't believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, even though it is revealed in the Old Testament. They're more

Unitarian in their understanding of God. But to say that God with us, this is what's gonna be said about this virgin -born child, that God is with us, that's a significant thing.

Now, this particular prophecy, by the way, is fulfilled with the birth of Jesus Christ, and you can find the fulfillment in either

Matthew or Luke. Both of them have the accounts of the birth of Christ. But I'll read to you the

Matthew account that references this particular prophecy. Now, the birth of Jesus Christ, this is Matthew 1, starting at verse 18.

Now, the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the

Holy Spirit, and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take

Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name

Jesus, or Yahshua, for he will save his people from their sins.

All of this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name

Immanuel, which means God with us, okay?

So the prophecies regarding Christ that were fulfilled with Christ's virgin birth is clear here, what the

Messiah, the expected Messiah, the anointed one, would be none other than God with us.

Okay? I would also point you to passages like John 1, 1, which reads, in the beginning was the

Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

This is clear, the Greek here couldn't be clearer, okay? So John himself begins his gospel with a clear

Christological statement that Jesus Christ is God, the Logos is

God, okay? And this is what we would expect, okay? If it's the promised

Messiah, the anointed one, would be God with us. Now, there's some also fun stuff in the narratives within the gospel of John that are worth noting here, okay?

We'll take a look at a few of them. The gospel of John, I'll start at chapter five, verse nine, and kind of point out the important stuff along the way.

But the gospel of John, chapter five, verse nine, here's what it says.

And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Jesus had just healed a paralytic.

And now that day that was the Sabbath, so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, it is the

Sabbath, and it's not lawful for you to take up your bed. But he answered them, the man who healed me, that man said to me, take up your bed and walk.

So they asked him, who is the man who said to you, take up your bed and walk? Now, the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, and there was a crowd in the place.

Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, see, you are well, sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.

And the man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the

Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, my father is working until now, and I am working.

Now, this is why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling

God his own father, making himself equal with God, okay?

So Jesus, in his own words, is making statements that any monotheistic Jew who's in tuned with the scripture would immediately see as being blasphemous.

Because Jesus, by calling himself the son of God, this is not some theologically neutral statement, okay?

By calling himself the son of God, calling God his father, he is making himself equal with God.

Now, in the Gospel of John chapter eight, there is this wonderful running battle slash dialogue that Jesus has with the

Jews that I'm gonna read. I'll start at verse 21 and take it to the end of the chapter and kind of point out the theological implications as to Jesus claiming to be

God all throughout this chapter. So if you have your Bible, Gospel of John chapter eight, verse 21, here we go.

So he said, that's Jesus, said to them, I am going away and you will seek me and you will die in your sin.

Where I am going, you cannot come. So the Jews said, will he kill himself since he says where I'm going, you cannot come?

He said to them, you are from below, I am from above. You are of this world,

I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.

Now, it's important to point something out here. Jesus is using some very peculiar language and what he's doing here, he says, unless you believe that I am, unless you believe that I am, ego, a me, you will die in your sins.

He's not saying that unless you believe I exist. He's invoking the divine name, the name that God uses for himself from the burning bush from Exodus chapter three.

Go back and read it where Moses is meeting with God in the burning bush and Moses asked

God, what is your name? And the name that God gives is I am, okay?

Jesus here is using this name and it's a strange construction in the

Greek because he doesn't need to add the I, it's almost redundant. It's like, it's very emphatic, I, I am.

Unless you believe that I, I am, you will die in your sins. Now, Jesus will go on to use this same phrase for himself,

I am, several other times. It's as if they, it's like they're going, is he really saying that?

And they'll finally get it, right? So he says, okay, I told you that you would die in your sins for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.

So they said to him, well, who are you? Jesus said to him, just what I have been telling you from the beginning,

I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true and I declare to the world what

I have heard from him. They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the father.

So Jesus said to him, said to them, when you have lifted up the son of man, then you will know that I am and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the father taught me.

And he who sent me is with me, he has not left me alone for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.

And as he was saying these things, many believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed, get this, if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

Here, Jesus is equating his words with holy scripture. If you abide in my word and believe me there at this point, they're starting to get the picture that Jesus is communicating to them.

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you'll know the truth and the truth will set you free.

So they answered him, well, we are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say you will become free?

Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

The slave does not remain in the house forever, the son remains forever. So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

I know that you are offspring of Abraham, yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.

I speak of what I have seen with my father and you do what you have heard from your father. So they answered him,

Abraham is our father, Jesus said to them, if you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works

Abraham did. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God, this is not what

Abraham did, you are doing the works your father did. So they said to him, we were not born of sexual immorality, we have one father, even

God. Jesus said to them, if God were your father, you would love me for I came from God and I am here.

I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say?

It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father's desire.

He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.

So then the Jews answered him, are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?

Jesus answered, I do not have a demon, but I honor my father and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory.

There is one who seeks it and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.

So the Jews said to him, now we know you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets.

Yet you say, if anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father

Abraham who died and the prophets died? Who do you make yourself out to be?

Jesus answered, if I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my father who glorifies me of whom you say he is our

God. But you have not known him, I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him,

I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day.

He saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, you are not yet 50 years old and you have seen

Abraham. Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was,

I am. And the light goes on and here's what happens.

Verse 59, so the Jews picked up stones to throw at him.

Right, they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Now, why did they pick up stones to throw at him? The reason is simple, because he was claiming an equal status with God, okay?

They thought that he had committed the sin of blasphemy and it was their duty, it was their duty to stone him.

We can cross -reference this with John chapter 10. I'll start at verse 22, but the important verses we need are down a little ways, but here's what it says.

At the time of the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem, it was winter. Jesus was walking in the temple in the colonnade of Solomon.

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, how long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, the Messiah, well, tell us plainly.

Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.

My sheep hear my voice, I know them, they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

My father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the father's hand.

I and the father are one. So, here we go again, the

Jews picked up stones again to stone him, why, they thought he was committing blasphemy. So Jesus answered them,

I have shown you many good works from the father, for which of them are you going to stone me?

The Jews answered, it is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy because you being a man, make yourself

God. That's what's going on here, okay?

Now, there's other clear passages that I can point you to. For instance, Romans chapter nine,

I'll start at verse one. Here's what it reads. Paul writes, I am speaking the truth in Christ.

I am not lying. My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen, according to the flesh.

They are Israelites and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship and the promises.

To them belong the patriarchs and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, the

Messiah, who is God over all, blessed forever. That's right.

Romans chapter nine, verse five, Paul says that Jesus Christ is

God over all. It's unmistakable and unambiguous. I would point you then also to Titus chapter two, starting at verse 11.

Here's what it says. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self -controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great

God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession, who are zealous for good works.

The important verse there here, waiting for our blessed hope, verse 13, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great

God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Another completely clear, not ambiguous passage that says that Jesus is our great

God and Savior. Now, Philippians chapter two, this is a great one because there's two pieces in Philippians chapter two that just punch home the truth that Jesus Christ is

God. Philippians chapter two, I'll start at verse one. Here's how it reads. So if there's any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each one of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. So have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form or very nature of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

I'm gonna stop there for a second. Okay, here's the idea, okay? Paul is engaging in what we would call a parallelism, okay?

He's saying, look to Christ, he's your example, and your mindset should be the same as his mindset, okay?

Even though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.

Now, this would not be a virtue if Jesus wasn't God, and here's the reason why, okay?

Is it virtuous for me to go, you know, hey, listen, I don't think that I should seek after equality with God.

I don't think that's a thing to be grasped. You'd say to yourself, well, duh, you're just a man, Chris.

So there's no virtue in that, right, okay? But see, that's the point, okay? There would be no virtue in Christ saying, you know, of it being said of Christ that he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped if he wasn't already

God, got it? So here's the idea. So do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count each other's more significant than yourself.

Let each one look not only to his own interests, but also the interests of others. Have this mind among you, which is yours in Christ, who though he was in the nature or very form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is

Lord to the glory of God the Father. Now, here's the fun part.

Part one is easy. It says even though he was in the nature of God, had

God's nature, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but here at the end, the

Apostle Paul is quoting from the book of Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah chapter 45, okay?

And I want to draw your attention to what's going on here. So he says, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is

Lord. That's an important word there, Lord, okay? We'll come back to that.

But here's what it says in Isaiah chapter 45. And for context, I'll start at verse 18 because you have to pay attention who's speaking here in Isaiah 45.

And here's, we'll start at verse 18 so you can see who's speaking. For thus says the Lord, okay?

So who's speaking? Yahweh, the Lord is speaking, right? Who created the heavens and the earth, he is

God. Who formed the earth and made it, he established it. He did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited.

I am the Lord and there is no other. I did not speak in secret in a land of darkness.

I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, seek me in vain. I, the Lord, speak the truth,

I declare what is right. Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together, you survivors of the nations.

They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols and keep on praying to a God that cannot save.

Declare and present your case, let them take counsel together. Who told this long ago?

Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no other

God besides me, a righteous God and a savior, and there is none besides me.

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is no other.

By myself, I have sworn from my mouth, has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return.

To me, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.

So Isaiah 45, verse 23, the last part of it, is what the apostle

Paul is plugging in there at Philippians chapter two. And I'll back up to Philippians chapter two and take a look then.

Who was speaking in Isaiah? Yahweh, the Lord, the one God was speaking.

And here's what it says, therefore God has exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow in heaven and earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is

Lord. That Jesus Christ is Yahweh, to the glory of God the

Father. That's what's going on there in Philippians chapter two. It is absolutely unmistakable when you cross -reference the parallel passage in Isaiah 45, verse 23, okay?

Let me give you a few more. Acts chapter 20, verse 28. Here's what the apostle Paul, talking to the elders of the church in Ephesus says, pay attention, careful attention to yourselves and to all of the flock in which the

Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God which he purchased,

I think that's a better word, which he purchased with his own blood. God purchased the church with his own blood.

Let me ask you a question. When did God bleed? Answer, on the cross.

That's what Paul's referring to. So God purchases the church with his own blood.

Colossians chapter one, starting at verse nine. Here's what it reads. And so from the day that we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so as to walk in a manner worthy of the

Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

May you be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the

Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He, Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For by him, all things were made in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him.

For he is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell."

Another clear, unambiguous passage. Okay, that Jesus Christ is God. I cross -reference that again with Colossians chapter two, verse eight.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

For in him, the whole fullness of the deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him who is the head of all rule and authority.

And then finally, I would point you to 2 Peter chapter one, verse one.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our

God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The testimony of scripture is abundantly clear.

Jesus Christ is none other than God in human flesh. And this is great news, because God himself is the one who came to save us.

Now, there's a couple of books I would recommend. For instance, Athanasius of Alexandria.

His book, On the Incarnation, is like the classic work. Get a copy of that book and read it.

It's brilliant. And then if you want to go into a more advanced study of this, get

Martin Chemnitz's book, The Two Natures in Christ. Again, that is a fantastic book, and it is encyclopedic in its handling of this topic.

But that's the case from scripture, and the scriptures are abundantly clear. Jesus Christ is none other than the

God of the Jews in human flesh. He is the one who's come to save us.

And that's how God demonstrates his love for us. By coming to earth, born of the Virgin Mary, suffering under Pontius Pilate, and dying on the cross for our sins and for our salvation.

This is just good news like you couldn't believe. Doesn't get any better than this. All right, we're up on our second break.

If you'd like to email me regarding anything you've heard on this edition, or any previous editions of Fighting for the Faith, you can do so.

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forward slash piratechristian. Click on the subscribe button or follow me on Twitter. My name there, at piratechristian. We will be right back.

Sermon review on the other side of the break. We'll be reviewing a sermon about the, well, kind of based on the movie,

A Christmas Story. Yeah, we'll be right back. Sisyoprophied religiosity won't save you.