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His Claims

The Deity of the Messiah

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INTRODUCTION. Which is important, the claim Jesus made about himself or the claim others  made about him? As Jesus said:  

But he continued, “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; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”  (John 8:23-24)

Thus, it is a matter of importance what Jesus really and originally taught about himself otherwise, as apostle Paul put it (see Colossians 1:23, to know what gospel he was proclaiming):

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!   (Galatians 1:8)

It is not a question of whether he was human or not--that’s a given--he was human! The issue now is, “What Jesus said about himself.”

IMPLICIT CLAIMS.  In his earthly ministry, Jesus claimed that he is the one and the only Son of God (John 5:17-18)--the title accredited to the Holy One of God who is with equality with God. For this claim they tried to stone him to death for blasphemy. (Our sonship in God is different than that of Jesus’ since we were only adopted through him [ Galatians 4:4-7; Hebrews 2:10; John 1:12.])

Jesus said to them,  "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, is working." For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own  Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:17-18)

 

The high priest said to him,  “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” “Yes it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  (Matthew 26:63b-64, cf. Daniel 7:13-14 )

In the Old Testament: God, through his prophets, persistently instructed the nation of Israel about his Unity. The Lord even commanded Moses to put to death, by stoning, the person who blasphemed against His Holy Name (Leviticus 14:13-16).

Hear, O Israel: The LORD [Yahweh]  our God, the LORD [Yahweh] is one.  (Deuteronomy 6:4)

In the book of Mark. Jesus also claimed that he can forgive sins only God can forgive. For this second reason, the Jews again tried to kill him for blasphemy.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  (Mark 2:5-7)

In the book of John. Jesus claimed that even before his mother's ancestor--Abraham--was conceived, he is already in existence; claiming the attribute called pre-existence accredited only to God who has no beginning and no end, the Alpha and the Omega.

"I tell you the truth, If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

        Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

        "You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

        “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.  (John 8:51-58)

CLAIMS OF EQUALITY. It is clearly recorded in the Scriptures that he publicly preached his Deity--that is, he (Jesus) and God the Father are one (John 10:30) in nature, not only in purpose; and not in person:

“I and the Father are one.” Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

        "We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”  (John 10:31-33)

TESTIMONIES. Thomas, Peter and John among the many disciples of Jesus, even confessed his Deity and Jesus did not even corrected or rebuked them! (Compare this situation with Revelation 22:9 and  Acts 14:11-15):

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"  Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  (John 20:28-29; cf. Revelation 4:11,  Exodus 20:7)

 

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received faith as precious as ours. (2 Peter 1:1; see also Matthew 16:16-17)

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)

PROPHECIES. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah prophesied about him:

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14; see also fulfillment and meaning, God With Us, in Matthew 1:23)  

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6, see also Joshua 22:22)  

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord [Yahweh], “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord [Yahweh] Our Righteousness.” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)  

 

“Shout and be glad, O Daugther of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord [Yahweh]. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord [Yahweh] in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord [Yahweh] Almighty has sent me to you.”  (Zechariah 2:10,11)

MORE TESTIMONIES. Apostle Paul testified the truth about him ...

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.  (Romans 9:5)

...while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.  (Titus 2:13-14, see also Hosea 13:4)

 

“Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”  (Acts 20:28b)

The demons even fear Jesus because he can torture them:

"What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. " Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" (Matthew 8:29)

And all these testimonies were even confirmed by God:

But about the Son he says,  “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.... therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” (Hebrews 1:8-10, c.f. Psalms 45:6,7)

There are countless of scriptures that support the fact: Jesus is indeed the Sovereign Lord. So much so that it would require you to read the entire Bible instead of this material!

Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does you will also remain in the Son  and in the Father. And this is what he promised us--even eternal life.  I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. (1 John 2:22-26)

LET THE BIBLE SPEAK. The Bible even gave him worship status. If he is not God, the Bible will then be teaching idolatry, a practice  which God strictly condemns:

“I am the LORD [Yahweh]; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another  or  my praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42:8)

 

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them...”  (Exodus 20:3-5)

Jesus also taught it:

Jesus said to him,  “Away from me Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10)

But what does the Bible REALLY say?

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw, him they worshipped him; but some doubted.  (Matthew 28:16-17)

 

While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.   (Luke 24:51-52)

We cannot worship a person unless... He is God who came as a man so that he can redeem us by the blood of his humanity.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

        Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself  nothing, taking the very nature of servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!

        Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Only God is worthy of worship (Exodus 20:3-5):

In the loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:  "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” The four living creatures said, "Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.   (Revelation 5: 12-14)

 

"Let all God's angels worship him."  (Hebrews 1:6b)

If Jesus was ONLY a man and Jesus demanded worship, why can’t we charge him of idolatry? How about blasphemy?

“Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”  (John 5:22-23)  

 

“If you knew me,  you would know my Father also.”  (John 8:19b)

 

“He who hates me hates my Father as well.”   ( John 15:23)

Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.” ( John 12:44-45)

 

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work... You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  ( John 14:9b-14)  

Apostle John explains the last two Scripture references:

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,  who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.  (John 1:18)

A man, no matter how extra-ordinary he may be, cannot save (in spiritual sense) his fellow men because he also is a fallen being--a sinner! The book of Hebrews  disclosed the real reason why Jesus became man for us:

The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

        The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

        For this reason Christ is the new mediator of the new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

        In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

        But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with the sin by the sacrifice of himself.

        Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:8-10, 13-18, 22, 26b-28)

CONCLUSION. It is critically important we understand who Jesus really is. Paul and John in their “letters”  warned us from believing in a different gospel. John even quoted Jesus warning the people from knowing a different “Jesus.”

Who is Jesus, really? Is he just another man? Another prophet? Another religious teacher? Yes. He is all of the above but, he is more than that, he is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Man described in Daniel 7--titles used interchangeably to mean the Son of God. Both fully divine and perfectly human, Jesus is the God incarnate.

It was Jesus who made this claim. His apostles testified to such claim. Prophecies pointed to him as the only person to whom God gave the best credentials to save mankind. They won’t call him Jesus for nothing (by the way, Jesus, in Greek, means “Yahweh-Savior”.) Besides, if the Law of God requires death (Romans 6:23) and blood (Hebrews 9:22) and if God is the only Savior (Isaiah 43:11), how will He save us if he remained a spirit (John 4:24)? For further readings: John 1:1-18, Colossians 1:15-23, Hebrews 1:1-14, and 1 John 5:1-20. 

Unless otherwise stated all Scripture taken from the The HOLY BIBLE,  NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission.