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DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST

The Christian's God and Savior is Jesus Christ.

In Titus 2:13 the very nature of Jesus Christ is equal to God and is the same as God. The word "God," together with "Savior," describes the nature of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God. There is only one article in the Greek, "the great God and our Savior." This is the necessary meaning of the one article with "God" and "Savior." "The great God and Savior" refers to the same person, Jesus Christ. John Gill said, "What a wonderful person He is, for He is God manifest in the flesh."

John 20:31 tells us the author wrote his Gospel so that his readers would know that Jesus Christ is God and by putting their faith in Him could have eternal life. The "signs" that John chose to describe in this book were chosen to give evidence of the deity of Jesus. "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." In the Gospel of John Jesus performed miracles, and lives a sinless life before a watching world. Sinners who put their trust in Him are changed. Why? It is precisely because He is God.

Jesus claimed to be and is God in the flesh, the Son of God, the Savior of all who will believe on Him. Other testimonies in the Gospel of John regarding the deity of Jesus are John the Baptist (John 1:34); Nathanael (Jn. 1:49); Jesus (Jn. 5:25; 10:36); Peter (6:69); the healed blind man (Jn. 9:35); Martha (Jn. 11:27); Thomas (Jn. 20:28) and the apostle John himself (Jn. 20:30-31). These were the only ones from the many that he could have chosen to include in his book.

John 20:28 is the testimony of Thomas when he saw Jesus alive after the crucifixion. Jesus accepted the testimony of His disciple when he declared, "My Lord and my God!" The statement could be translated, "You are my Lord and my God!" or "You are my Lord, even my God." The fact is the same person is my Lord and my God. He is not referring to two different individuals.

The most significant use of the word "Lord" (kurios) in the Gospel of John is to confess that Jesus is God. It is the highest possible confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Kurios is used in John in quotations from the Old Testament and is the standard Greek equivalent for the Hebrew name for God, Yahweh or Jehovah (LORD). This is the highest confession of Jesus' deity. We must make the same confession in order to be saved (Rom. 10:9-10, 13; 1:4; Acts 2:36).

Jesus is God visible in the flesh (John 1:1-3, 14, 18; 8:58; cf. 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:5-9; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:2f; John 17:5). The pre-existent Logos "became flesh." The Logos was eternally God. Jesus is God-Man. Therefore, His words and actions are those of the God-Man. Christ, the eternal Logos, who is God, became flesh and lived among men. Jesus' Sonship is unique for He is eternal and is of the same essence as "the Father."

In 2 Peter 1:1 "The righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ" tells us Jesus is God and Savior. The Greek grammar here clearly indicates that "God and Savior" is one Person, not two. There is one Greek article with two substantives indicating that Jesus Christ is coequal in nature with God the Father (John 1:1; 20:28; Titus 2:13; Matthew 16:16). The construction of the Greek text demands we translate, "our God and Savior, Jesus Christ."

The one article "the" (tou) with "God" and "Savior" requires precisely one person, not two as in our "Lord and Savior" in 2 Pet. 1:11; 2:20; 3:2, 18. In 1 Peter 1:3 it is "the God and Father," again one person not two. "The grammar is uniform and inevitable" (A. T. Robertson). "Grammar demands that one person be meant." Jesus Christ is the Christian's God and Savior (Acts 4:12).

In Hebrews 1:1-2 the author presents the Son as “the exact counterpart of God” (Moffatt). In the absolute sense Jesus Christ is the "Son" of God. He is God’s Son who reveals the Father (John 1:18). “The revelation was a son-revelation” (Vincent). Down through eternity Jesus Christ was God the Son. He did not become the Son of God when He was born in the flesh. He condescended to become Man (Phil. 2:5-6). "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was" (John 17:5, NASB95). The NET Bible reads, "And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created" (John 17:5, NET). In His resurrection and ascension, Jesus was received back His eternal glory. His resurrection declared to the watching world that Jesus is God’s unique Son.

He "who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:4, NASB95).

The apostle John in the book of Revelation declared the full deity of Jesus Christ where we see demonstrated the attributes and prerogatives of God at work over creation. It is a picture of angels and living creatures saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’ And the four living creatures kept saying, ‘Amen.’ And the elders fell down and worshiped" (Revelation 5:12-14). 

There are many more passages of Scripture that clearly demonstrate that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, the Second Person of the Trinity and He alone is worthy of our worship as God. Immanuel has come, and He is with us!

Charles Hodge offers an excellent summary of the biblical evidence of the divine attributes of Jesus Christ:

"All names and divine titles are applied to Him. He is called God, the mighty God, the great God, God above all; Jehovah; Lord; the Lord of lords and King of kings.  All the divine attributes are ascribed to Him. He is declared omnipresent, omniscient, almighty and immutable, the same yesterday, today and forever. He is set forth as the creator and upholder and ruler of the universe. All things were created by Him and for Him, and by Him all things consist. He is the object of worship to all intelligent creatures, even the highest; all angels (that is, all creatures between man and God) are commanded prostrate themselves before Him. He is the object of all religious sentiments; of reverence, love, faith and devotion. To Him, men and angels are responsible for their character and conduct. He required man to honor Him as they honored the Father; that they should exercise the same faith in Him that they do in God. He declares that He and the Father are one; that those who had seen Him had seen the Father also. He calls all men unto Him; promises to forgive their sins; to send them the Holy Spirit; to give them rest and peace; to raise them up at the last day; and give them eternal life. God is not more, and cannot promise more, or do more than Christ is said to be, to promise, and to do. He has, therefore, been the Christian's God from the beginning, in all ages and in all places" (Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, II, p. 382).

Key Scriptures

John 1:1-5, 14, 18; 8:58; Acts 2:22-36; Matthew 22:41-46; Matthew 16:13-16; 2 Peter 1:11; 2:20; 3:18;  John 11:41-44; Colossians 1:15, 19; 2 Peter 1:1; 2 John 3; Jude 4; Revelation 5:8-14; Romans 1:8; 16:20; 1 John 2:22-25; Hebrews 13:8; Luke 2:11; Philippians 2:9-11

Abiding Principles and Practical Applications

1. When you fully realize that Jesus Christ is God the only option is to fall at His feet and worship Him (Philippians 2:9-11).

2. On this Biblical doctrine the true believer in Jesus Christ cannot compromise: Jesus Christ is our great God and Savior! Have you joined the great heavenly choir singing praise to the Lamb who sits on the throne? (Rev. 5:8-14)

For Further Study