The Deity of Jesus
Our belief in the deity of Christ is derived directly from statements concerning Him in the Bible (John 5:39). One of the crucial moments in the ministry of Jesus is Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus called for the confession then and He calls for it now. He knew people often talked about Him and had various opinions concerning Him as is seen by His first question, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Matthew 16:13). This is quickly followed by the question, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This question confronts every man of every age so that in the end all have to give their answer to it.
Since no other evidence than the Bible exists to prove that Christ is divine, the Son of God, we must appeal to it for the following teaching:
The Lord of Nature. Jesus is revealed to man as the Lord of Nature in that He exercised over it an equal authority with the Father (John 5:17), and showing His divine power over diseases where with a word He healed the leper (Matthew 8:3), the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:13), the sick of palsy (Matthew 9:6) and many others. His Lordship over Nature is seen in the ability to walk on the sea (John 6:19), still the tempest (Matthew 8:23-27), and turning the water to wine (John 2:1-11).
Authority Over All. To Jesus, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Men are entrusted to Jesus that they may be taught and baptized into Him (Matthew 28:19-20) and therefore are given spiritual life (John 6:68-69; Ephesians 2:1ff). It will be His voice which will hereafter raise the dead from their graves that He may execute the judgement which has been committed to Him (John 5:22-29), and give eternal life to those who have served faithfully (John 17:2).
The Spiritual World. The spiritual world was subject to Him during His ministry as exhibited in His ability to cast out devils in His name (Matthew 12:22-37). It is said that the angels ascend and descend upon Him (John 1:51) and sat in the tomb where His body had lain (John 20:23). Concerning the judgement to come, the angels will come with Him in His glory (Matthew 16:27).
Eternal. Jesus is eternal and claimed it for Himself. He said, “. . . [B]before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). Being eternal is a mark of deity. He shared in the glory of the Father “before the world was” (John 17:5) and claimed for Himself as being “[T]he Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End . . . who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).
Oneness with the Father. His oneness with the Father is absolute. The Scriptures teach that they work together (John 5:17); they do the same things (John 5:19); and they exercise an equal authority over the bodies and souls of men (John 5:21-26; 10:28-29). He states clearly and absolutely, “I and My Father are one” (John 14:10). He claims that He has an equal share of the honor that belongs to the Father, “That all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:23).
Creator. Jesus is set forth in the Holy Scriptures as the Creator of the world, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3). Paul states in Colossians 1:16, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” By Him the Father “made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2) and “laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands” (Hebrews 1:10). Added to the creating power of Christ is the preserving power in that the Holy Scriptures teach, “in him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17) and that He “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3).
Such language as the above, while given in an abbreviated form, shows in the strongest language that Jesus Christ is divine, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). It shows clearly that the glory, majesty, and the power of the Father also belong to His Son, therefore, as the Father is deity so is the Son. The claims of Jesus to be divine and equal with the Father underlies His teachings from the start.
I would like to close with recommendations of some good works on the deity of Christ. Every student of the Bible ought to have a Wanted Book List and should add these to it: Evidence that Demands a Verdict (Josh McDowell, and Sean McDowell. Nelson, 2017); The Supernaturalness of Christ (Wilbur M. Smith, 1940); The Divinity of Our Lord (H. P. Liddon. Bampton Lectures 1866); How Is the Divinity of Jesus Depicted? (Thomas Whitelaw, 1933); On the Evidences of Christianity (James Clarke Franks, Hulsen Lectures 1821).
The above article first appeared in Bible Herald (vol. 26 no. 14) 15 July 1978, revised July 2023.
W. Terry Varner
General Editor
Sufficient Evidence