Outline of Hebrews
APPENDIX
The Deity of Christ
WHY THE SUBJECT IS IMPORTANT
Because Christ Himself is the central theme of the Scriptures (Luke 24:27; John 1:45 5:39; Acts 10:43)
Because Christ Himself constantly sought to bring men to a proper understanding of His identity.
In Matthew 13-20 the question concerned not the teaching or works of Christ, but the identity of Christ.
Because it is characteristic of False Religion, that it degrades Christ.
If Christians were well-grounded in what Holy Scripture says about Christ, they would have no trouble refuting error.
Importance indicated by John's uncompromising attitude
2 John 9 – context shows that “doctrine of Christ” means the doctrine concerning Christ Himself, and not merely the doctrine Christ taught. The test of any Bible teacher is what he teaches about Christ.
Because all the greatest controversies in Christianity have concerned the Person, Nature and Work of Christ.
WHAT CHRIST CLAIMED FOR HIMSELF
John 3:13 – “came down from heaven”
John 6:62 – “. . . ascending where he was before”
John 17:5 – “before the world was”
These are obvious claims to pre-existence: borne out by 2 Corinthians 3:9. Let those who deny Christ's pre-existence explain just when Christ was rich, for He was rich before He became poor.
John 8:23, 24 – “. . . Ye are from beneath; I am from above: . . . for except ye believe that I am (he) ye shall die in your sins.” Note the use of “I AM” (“ego eimi”). Used four times in New Testament, and constantly used in Septuagint Old Testament when name of God is referred to.
John 8:58 – “Before Abraham was [“genesthai” = was born] I AM.” Verse 59 proves that the Jews at least understood the significance of this claim (See also John 5:18; 10:33)
John 18:4-6 – “When therefore he said unto them, I am [he] they went backward, and fell to the ground.”
John 5:19-47 – Christ plainly claims His Deity, emphasizing His perfect harmony with God.
One in Action (vv. 19, 20)
One in Power (v. 21)
One in Judgment (vv. 22, 27)
One in Honor (v. 23)
One in Underived Life (v. 26)
BUT THE JEWS REJECTED CHRIST'S TESTIMONY TO HIMSELF.
John 8:31 – “Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy witness is not true.”
And Jesus recognized this objection. John 5:31. Therefore:
John 5 – Jesus indicates that His claim does not rest upon His own claim
John the Baptist testified (v. 33). See John 1:15 – “. . . he is preferred [ranks] before me, for he was before me.” Yet John was six months older than Jesus!
The Works testify (v. 36). Explained by John 20:30, 31
The Father testified (v. 37). At Baptism, e.g. Matthew 3:17
The Scriptures testify (v. 39). Luke 24:27 – “Beginning at Moses . . .”
The Scriptures mentioned here are the Old Testament Scriptures. Over 600 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Christ. Was God's intention that Jews should be prepared for the coming of Christ? They did not recognize Him. But they could have done so. Matthew constantly appeals to the prophets in explaining events in Christ's life. At least 60 times such expressions as “that the scriptures might be fulfilled.”
Notice: Isaiah 7:14 – “Behold the virgin . . .”
Notice: Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born . . .”
See the paradox – a child born; a son given; yet the child is the Everlasting Father, and the Mighty God
These prophecies fulfilled in Luke 1:32, 33; Matthew 1:20-23
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST EXPLAINED
1. The choice facing us is simple yet vital. Either Christ was born miraculously, of a virgin, or He was the illegitimate son of an unmarried girl and an unknown father. Matthew 1:18-20 makes it plain that Mary was unmarried and Joseph was not the father.
2. John 1:1-18 – contains finest explanation of this great wonder, for while the actual birth is not recorded by John, he anticipates the event by pointing out the pre-existence and deity of the One who was born.
3. John's inspired explanation of the birth summarized in this sentence: “The word became flesh and dwelt among us” (v.14). There is preexistence asserted. “In the beginning was [“een” = existed] the Word.” Not that “in the beginning the Word came into being” or that the Word was created at the beginning. Not “egento” = became. The One about whom John writes existed before Creation (See Col. 17). There was coexistence, for “The Word was with God”. The word “with” in this connection (“pros”) means more than “beside” or “near.” It means in living union and communion. The Deity of the Word is asserted. “And the Word was God.” Thus, He existed already in the beginning. He was with God before anything was made, sharing intimate union
and fellowship, lest anyone should suppose that in this relationship the Word was of an inferior order, He was God – Deity.
4. John 1:11 – “He came to his own [“idia”] and his own [“idioi”] received him not.” He came to his “own things” and they that were his own did not receive him.”
5. John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” This marks a new form of existence and not the commencement of an existence, Bethlehem merely the time and place where He who existed in the beginning took upon Himself a new form. That is why John says, “He dwelt among us.” He tabernacled; pitched His tent. It was a temporary stay.
6. Micah 5:2 – “But thou, Bethlehem . . . out of thee shall he come forth unto me . . . whose goings forth [emanations] are from of old, from everlasting.”
7. Hebrews 10:5 – “Wherefore when He cometh into the world . . . a body didst Thou prepare for Me.” The one who speaks and refers to himself as “Me,” existed before the body was prepared for Him. It was in that body that the One who existed before all worlds was manifested. And John concludes, “We beheld [examined, inspected minutely] his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.”
TESTIMONY FROM THE EPISTLES
1. Philippians 2:6-8 – This passage also describes the incarnation, only in different terms. In verse 5, Paul makes plain about whom he is writing. He existed in the “form” of God. Form = “morph” and means more than “outward appearance.” It means “essence or natural.” The Nature of God, which He had at the beginning was just as real as was the nature of Man, which He assumed when he “took upon himself the form of a servant.”
2. Notice that to become a man, He had to “empty” Himself, He did not empty or strip Himself of His divine nature, but of the glory belonging to that nature, taking upon Himself the inglorious position of a slave, but to him belonged the essence of God, and because it belonged to Him, He did not regard it as a prize to be seized, or claimed at all costs.
3. Colossians 1:15-18 presents a triple claim: First, as to God – He is the Image “iken” = visible manifestation and representation of the Invisible God. Second, as to the Universe – In Him were all things created. In Him, through Him and unto Him. Third, as to the Church – He is the Head of the body, the church. And the purpose of all this? “That in all things, He might have the preeminence. For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.”
4. Colossians 2:9 – “In him dwelleth [is permanently housed, in contrast with the temporary stay in John 1:14] all the fullness [“pleroma”] of the Godhead, [“theotes” = deity, and not “theiotes” = divinity] bodily.” Paul declares that in Christ is permanently housed the fullness of the nature and essence of deity. A truly stupendous passage!
5. Note: “Theiotes” has to do with the attributes of God's character. But “theotes” means the very nature and essence of deity. Thayer defines this word as “referring to the state of being God.” It is also interesting to remember that Thayer was a Unitarian and the Unitarians hold the heresy of Arianism, which says that Christ was a created being, subject to God and of similar, though not the same substance as God. It was this teaching that was strongly condemned by the Council of Nicea in 325 a.d., in the Nicene Creed.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Titus 2:13 – “. . . our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:1 – “. . . our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Compare: Hebrews 1:10-12 (especially v. 8) with Psalm 102:25; Isaiah 6:1-5 with John 12:41; Isaiah 40:3 with Matthew 3:3; Zechariah 12:10 with John 19:37
