The Deity of Christ

The Father’s Testimony

How has the Father shown that His Son is one person of the Godhead?

But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.” Hebrews 1:8. 

How did the Father while on earth recognize him?

“And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17.

Christ’s Testimony

In what way did Christ refer to the eternity of His being?

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” John 17:5. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2. (See Matthew 2:6; John 5:58; Exodus 3:13,14.)

What did Christ say is His relation to the Father?

“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30.

How did Christ assert an equal proprietorship with His Father in the kingdom?

“The Son of man will send his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.” Matthew 13:41.

To whom do the elect equally belong?

“And he will send his angels with a trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Matthew 24:31. Luke 18:7.

Who are equally joined in bestowing the final rewards? 

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. “For the Son of man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” Matthew 16:27.

Note – In the texts (Matthew 16:27; 13:41; 24:31) in which Christ refers to the angels as “his angels” and to the kingdom as “His kingdom” and to the elect as “His elect,” He refers to Himself as “the Son of man.” It thus appears that while He was on earth as a man, He recognized His essential deity and His equality with His Father in heaven.

What does God declare Himself to be?

“This is what the Lord says – Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God.”

In what scripture does Christ adopt the same expression?

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12,13.

Apostles John and Paul Speak

What scripture states that the Son of God was God manifested in the flesh?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have see his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1,14. 

What fullness dwells in Christ?

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”  Colossians 2:9.

Christ the Savior

How was He manifested on earth as a Savior?

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:11.

How was Christ begotten in the flesh?

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Luke 1:35.

Why was it necessary that He should be born thus, and partake of human nature?

“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17.  

Having such a wonderful Savior, what are we exhorted to do?

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:14,15.

The King Came Down

“The king of glory stooped low to take humanity. Rude and forbidding were His earthly surroundings. His glory was veiled, that his majesty of His outward form might not become the object of attraction. He shunned all outward display. Riches, worldly honor, and human greatness can never save a soul from death; Jesus purposed that no attraction of an earthly nature should call men to His side. Only the beauty of heavenly truth must draw those who would follow Him. The character of the Messiah had long been foretold in prophecy, and He desired men to accept Him upon the testimony of the Word of God.”

The Desire of Ages, p. 39.  

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