Deity of Christ – JARRETT FLETCHER

Does the Bible present Jesus as God in the flesh? Is the Son of God really God? Or did the doctrine of Christ’s deity evolve over the centuries? Christianity rises and falls upon this doctrine just as much as any other. It is not an overstatement to say that salvation hangs in the balance. So, what’s the answer?

Dan Brown writes in his enormously popular book The Da Vinci Code that Jesus’ deity was a doctrine proposed and voted on at the Council of Nicaea in 325. He writes that the Roman emperor at the time, Constantine, “turned Jesus into a deity who existed beyond the scope of the human world, an entity whose power was unchallengeable.”[1] However, The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction, and so is this claim. Fiction.

Not only is this claim historically inaccurate (the deity of Christ was not proposed/voted on at the council of Nicaea), it is biblically and theologically inaccurate. The Scriptures clearly present Jesus as God and our theology of salvation requires it. Yet countless cults and critics have bought into Brown’s claims or those like it, believing that the deity of Jesus is a historical development rather than biblical truth.

Biblical Evidence

I would like to pose three arguments that demonstrate that the Bible clearly expects us to believe that Jesus is God: 1. Jesus bears the names and titles of God. 2. Jesus does the works of God. 3. Jesus receives the worship of God.

1. Jesus bears the titles of God.

Consider the following verses:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

“Thomas answered him [Jesus], ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28)

Titus writes that we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This verse features the Granville Sharpe Rule in Greek, where God and Savior refer to the same person, Jesus Christ. It is similar to how we might say “our father and friend David.” We would understand David to be both the father and friend referenced.

There’s another one of these in 2 Peter 1:1- “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”Peter clearly refers to Jesus as God and Savior.

Paul writes, “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 9:5)

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 21:6). Compare this to what Yahweh says about himself in Isaiah 44:6, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”

The New Testament authors clearly identify Jesus as God by using these titles in reference to him.

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This week we will begin our Colossians series by studying the first eight verses of the book. These verses contain Paul’s opening greetings, which includes his declaration of authorship, official address, and thanksgiving. Too often opening greetings are skimmed over, but there’s plenty here to learn about the nature of the gospel, the role of faith, and the responsibility of those who are ministers of the gospel.

1. Reason for Thanksgiving (1:3-5)

After his customary extension of grace and peace to his brothers and sisters in Christ at Colossae, Paul tells them that he always gives thanksto Godfor them. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” (Col 1:3). Then he tells them why he gives thanks for them, “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (Col 1:4-5).

Why is Paul thankful for the Colossians? First, because he has heard of their faith in Christ Jesus (v. 4). Second, because their faith in Christ has produced the natural fruit of loving each other (v. 4). And third, because their faith is not in vain, but is rooted in a sure hope that is laid up for them in heaven (v. 5).

When we look at our own lives or the lives of believers around us, these same things should encourage us and lead us to thanksgiving. We should be thankful for genuine faith in Christ. Thankful for the Spirit bringing real fruit from our faith in our lives. Thankful that our faith will result in a future inheritance in heaven.

Simply put, Paul is thankful that real Christianity has taken root at Colossae. People have trusted Christ, are loving one another, and are living with their gaze fixed on heaven. If we, our church, or our families are doing the same, let us thank God; it all comes from Him!

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