7 Bible Passages about the Deity of Christ, & Why it Matters
In our day there is no lack of opinions about who Jesus is. How many of you have had the experience in talking about Jesus where there were many varied opinions about him by the people you were talking with? If you ask the Buddhist, they will say he is not God but rather he is an enlightened man. Hinduism has varying views about Jesus but generally they say he is one of many gods or that he is a wise man like Krishna. Islam says that Jesus is a prophet, inferior to Mohammed. Jehovah’s Witnesses say that Jesus is a created being, but not God. The Mormons say that he is the half-brother of Lucifer who became one of many gods. Then there are vast others who think Jesus was just a social liberator who died a tragic death, or that he was just one of the many great moral teachers and examples the world has had. A great man, but just a man.
But the real issue is not who others say Jesus is, the real question is who do the Scriptures declare Jesus to be. Let me share with you 7 passages that point to the deity of Christ, and why it matters so much.
Titus 2:13 – While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
John 20:26-29 – A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Hebrews 1:8 – But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.”
John 1:1-3…14 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. … 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Colossians 1:16 – For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Colossians 2:9 – For in Christ all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.
Romans 9:5 – Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
So, the Scripture is clear: Jesus is God in all God’s fullness.
The question then becomes: Why does it matter so much? 3 answers can be given:
1) Since Jesus is the Eternal God, His death and resurrection provide eternal payment for our sins. Hebrews 7:24-25 says, “Because Jesus lives forever…he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.” You see, if Jesus was merely a man, his death was just another tragic loss of life in history past. But, if Jesus was (and is) the Eternal God, then his death can provide eternal payment for our sins.
2) True worship that pleases God must take place “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). The context of those words reveal that Jesus was referring to the truth of his identity. So, true knowledge of Jesus is the way that we can begin to approach God in genuine worship.
3) A personal relationship with Jesus is what brings us eternal life. In John 17:3 it defines eternal life in terms of having a personal relationship with God the Father and God the Son (Jesus). If Christ was a mere man who died a tragic death 2000 years ago, we can’t have a relationship with him. But, if Jesus is God who entered our world, lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, rose again, and then ascended to heaven, we can have a personal relationship with Him, one that brings us eternal life. Only an Eternal Being can give us eternal life, and only a personal relationship with the Jesus as revealed in the Bible leads to eternal life.
That’s why it matters so much that Jesus is the Eternal God.
What a Savior we have!
