Great Doctrines of the Bible
Prepared by William S.H. Piper, D.D.
For Rogma International, Inc.
Copyright 1989 by Rogma International, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Deity of Jesus Christ
Introduction
Christianity in its entirety rests upon this proposition:
Jesus Christ was and is the divine Son of God, possessing all the power and attributes of God.
Importance of this Lesson
Christianity is not a system of ethics nor a code of laws. It is a LIFE. It is the life of the Lord Jesus Christ possessed, enjoyed, and manifested in and through the lives of all that trust Him as their personal Savior.
Remove the name of Buddha from Buddhism, Confucius from Confucianism, or Mohammed from Islam, and the doctrines of these religions would remain undisturbed. Whatever practical value they had would not be lessened. But remove the name of Jesus Christ from Christianity and nothing remains – absolutely nothing.
If Christ were merely a moral miracle worker, a master teacher, a deluded maniac or imposter, then the entire foundation of Christianity is crushed, and its house crumbles and falls. If Christ were not divine, then He was an illegitimate child of an impure woman. Christmas carols would be mythological lullabies.
If Christ were not divine, His miracles are mere legends, His words are false, and the universal problem of man’s redemption from sin remains unsolved.
If Christ were not the Son of God, there are no rays of light from an empty tomb. Sin, death and hell were not conquered. The Christian’s hope of a glorious future is shattered. The believer is still in his sins and "of all men most miserable." The desperately needed message of hope and peace is lost and hopelessness and despair again grip the world. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-26.)
This study was selected for Lesson #1 because this truth is basic to our Christian faith. Every believer and serious minded Bible student should grasp it firmly.
THE LESSON
PROOFS OF CHRIST’S DEITY
BY HIS CLAIMS
That the Old Testament Scriptures testified of Him as being the Messiah (John 5:39).
That He existed BEFORE Abraham and was the I AM of Exodus 3:13-14; cf. Exodus 6:3. I AM was the name of Jehovah and asserted the self-existence of God (John 8:57-59).
He said, "I AM the BREAD of LIFE" (John 6:35, 48), and that all who believed in Him would never hunger, thirst or die (John 6:35-48).
He said, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" (John 8:12 and 9:5).
He said, "I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP" (John 10:7), and all who enter that door are saved (John 10:9).
He said, "I AM THE WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE" (John 14:6). He claimed that none could come to God the Father except by Him.
He said, "I AM THE RESURRECTION" (John 11:25), and that all who believed in Him would live and never die.
He claimed equality with God the Father (John 10:30-33; 14:8-9).
He claimed pre-existence before the creation of the world (John 17:5).
II. BY HIS DEEDS
He forgave sin! (Matthew 9:3-6; Mark 2:5-7; Luke 7:47-50). They accused Christ of blasphemy because they knew that only God could forgive sin. So Christ was either God or a blasphemer.
He performed miracles that only God could do.
He raised the dead (Luke 7:12-15; 8:53-55; John 11:41-44).
He made the blind to see (John 9:1-7).
He transformed water into wine (John 2:7-11).
He fed 20,000 people (5,000 men besides women and children) with just five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:15-21).
He healed all manner of diseases (Mark 2:10-11; Luke 6:17-19).
He commanded and controlled the sea (Luke 8:22-24; Matthew 8:23-27).
BY HIS ATTRIBUTES
Definition – The attributes of God are the unchanging characteristics and powers of the Triune God.
There are TWO classifications of attributes:
NATURAL – Those characteristics, which reveal God in relation to Himself. They are absolute and not subject to the WILL.
MORAL – Those characteristics, which account for God’s revelation of Himself to His creatures.
There are nine NATURAL attributes and nine MORAL attributes.
The NATURAL attributes are those which relate to:
The LIFE of God: Life, Spirituality, and Personality.
The PERSON of God: Unity, Eternity, and Immutability.
The POWER of God: Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence.
The MORAL attributes are those which relate to:
The NATURE of God: Love, Grace, and Mercy.
The CHARACTER of God: Holiness, Righteousness, and Faithfulness.
The GOVERNMENT of God: Wisdom, Truth, and Sovereignty.
In a future lesson we shall deal with these attributes thoroughly when we discuss the TRINITY. In this lesson, we are simply rejoicing in what Jesus Christ is shown to be in that He possesses all eighteen attributes of the Godhead.
Some Illustrations
Christ is ETERNAL (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:10-12; Revelation 1:8, 18).
Christ is IMMUTABLE (wonderfully unchanging) (Hebrews 1:11-12; 13:8).
Christ is OMNISCIENT (having universal and unlimited wisdom and knowledge).
Matthew 9:4 – He KNEW their thoughts.
John 6:64 – He KNEW who would believe not and who would betray.
John 5:22 – All judgment has been committed to Him.
Revelation 20:11-13 – He will be the judge of all sinners.
1 Corinthians 4:5 – He KNOWS what is in every heart.
Colossians 2:3 – In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Christ is OMNIPOTENT (having universal and unlimited power).
Colossians 1:16-17 – All things have been created by Him and are sustained by Him.
Matthew 14:19-21 – Note His creative power.
Luke 8:24 and Matthew 14:26 – Note His mastery over nature.
Christ is OMNIPRESENT (the state of being everywhere present at the same time).
Matthew 18:20 – He is present wherever two are gathered.
Matthew 28:19-20 – He is with us always.
John 3:13 – Even while on earth He was also in heaven.
Christ is SOVEREIGN (the state of having absolute authority to do anything according to His own will and purpose).
John 5:21-22 – Christ gives life to whom He will.
Matthew 28:18 – All power (authority) is given unto Me.
Philippians 2:10-11 – Every knee must bow to Him.
BY HIS RESURRECTION
Note especially Romans 1:4. This subject is so great it will be treated separately in a future lesson. Here it is sufficient to say that while the DEITY of Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith, the RESURRECTION of Christ is the cornerstone of the Gospel.
V. BY THE FACT THAT HE ACCEPTED WORSHIP
Since truest worship is reserved for God alone, for Christ to accept it and even command it makes Him to either be God or to be guilty of gross arrogance and pride.
Matthew 14:33 – They WORSHIPPED Him.
Matthew 28:9 – They held Him – and WORSHIPPED Him.
John 20:28 – Thomas WORSHIPPED Him.
Philippians 2:10-11 – All men will someday WORSHIP Him.
Conclusion:
While much more could be added to this study, what is here should convince any honest and searching heart. Memorize the scriptures. Declare His DEITY everywhere.
GREAT DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE
EXAM - LESSON 1
Name
Address
The foundation of Christianity is: (Value 6 points)
the resurrection of Christ.
that Jesus Christ was God and He is God today.
the crucifixion of Christ.
Christianity is: (Value 6 points)
a system of laws.
a way of behaving yourself.
a Life.
If Christ and everything He did were taken out of Christianity: (Value 6 points)
Christianity would fall apart.
Christianity would still have become a great religion.
the apostles would have started Christianity.
According to John 8:58, Jesus’ life began: (Open Bible) (Value 6 points)
at the time He was born on this earth.
at the time the world was created.
He was without beginning.
In John 17:5 we see that Christ is: (Open Bible) (Value 6 points)
God.
the Savior.
the creator of the world.
The fact that Jesus forgave sins shows that: (Value 6 points)
He was a good man.
He loved people.
He is God.
The fact that Jesus made blind people to see shows that: (Value 6 points)
He was a good medical doctor.
He is God.
He wanted everybody to be able to see.
An "attribute" of God shows us: (Value 6 points)
that God is alive.
what God is like.
that we can see God with spiritual eyes.
The two kinds of attributes of God are those that show: (Mark two.) (Value 14 points)
God Himself in Jesus Christ.
what God is like in Himself.
His perfection.
His justice.
how God presents Himself to people.
Name five attributes of God. (Value 20 points)
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John 1:1-3 teaches us that Christ: (Open Bible) (Value 6 points)
never changes.
is omnipotent.
is eternal.
The foundation of the Gospel is that: (Value 6 points)
Christ is God.
Christ rose from the dead, never to die again.
Christ died on the cross.
Philippians 2:10-11 tells us that: (Value 6 points) (Open Bible)
everybody loved Christ.
Christ is God.
in the end everyone will go to heaven.