The Divinity of Christ (Part 2)
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
In the very beginning, God speaks of Himself in the plural. Us…Our image…Our likeness.
John 1:1-3,14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The One John is introducing here is Jesus. He is the Word. He is the one who spoke all things into creation. He has always been with God, and He is God.
Hebrews 1:8
But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”
Jesus is called God.
Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Holy Spirit gives a visual sign and God the Father gives an audible sign to those around that Jesus is His beloved Son.
John 17:5
And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Jesus had God’s glory even before the earth was formed.
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel. Whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting.
It was prophesied that God, “whose goings forth are from old” would enter this world at Bethlehem.
John 10:30
I and My Father are one.
Jesus declares that He is one with the Father.
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Jesus will come again in His Father’s glory, and He will be the one to bring our reward.
Colossians 2:9
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Jesus was no less then God, even in a human form while on earth.
Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
It was not the normal human method that conceived of Jesus, it was God Himself who placed Himself in a human cell to enter our world.
Hebrews 2:17
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Jesus chose to experience human life in its fullness, so that He could identify with us completely.
John 16:27,28
For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.
Jesus came from the Father and went back to the Father.
John 17:4,5
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Jesus came to glorify the Father by revealing perfectly the character of the Father to men. Having accomplished His goal, Jesus has returned to God and has received His glory, as God, which He had prior to coming to the world.