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Systematic Theology II - Lesson 2

The Divinity of Jesus Christ

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ had attributes belonging solely to God, and did works that were done by God alone. Christ was worshipped and accepted worship. He Himself claimed to be God.

Bruce Ware
Systematic Theology II
Lesson 2
Watching Now
The Divinity of Jesus Christ

The Person of Jesus Christ (Part 2)

C. Deity of Christ (continued)

2. Attributes of God that are predicated of Christ

a. Eternity

b. Immutability

c. Omnipotence

3. Works only God can do, done by Christ

a. Creation

b. Preservation

c. Gives eternal life

d. Forgiveness of sins

4. Worship belonging to God alone is given to Christ

a. Peter and Paul reject worship from others

b. John instructed not to worship the angel

c. Christ himself receives and accepts worship

d. The Father commands that Christ be worshipped

e. Worshipped with the Father in eternity

5. Jesus’ own claims to be God

a. John 8:58

b. John 10:30

c. John 17:5,24

d. Mark 14;61-62; Matt. 26;63-64


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  • Both the Old and New Testaments teach that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully human. The Old Testament contains specific references to His pre-incarnate existence. The New Testament teaches that the incarnation is an historical event that was prophesied in the Old Testament. Christ fulfills the roles of prophet, priest and king. His deity is emphasized by the names of God that are ascribed to Him.

  • The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ had attributes belonging solely to God, and did works that were done by God alone. Christ was worshipped and accepted worship. He Himself claimed to be God.

  • Christ was fully human, as well as fully God. The Old Testament prophesied it and His historical life demonstrated it. Philippians 2: 6-8 uses the word kenosis to explain the relationship between Christ's human and divine natures.

  • The "impeccability" of Christ deals with the question of whether or not Christ could have sinned. The answer to this question has implications for both His life and ministry. (At the 51 minute mark, the reference to "John the Baptist," Dr. Ware meant to say, "John the Apostle.")

  • Delegates at the Council of Chalcedon tried to explain the hypostatic union of Christ's natures. The theological bases for the work of Christ on the cross focus on the sin of humanity and God's holiness and mercy. The atonement is God's self-satisfaction through self-substitution

  • Christ's atoning sacrifice was comprehensive. The different aspects of the atonement may be compared to light refracting through a diamond – you can see different colors, but they are all light. Three aspects of the atonement are sacrifice, substitution and redemption.

  • Three more aspects of the atonement are propitiation, expiation, and reconciliation. Christ's resurrection is a ratification of the efficacy of the atonement.

  • The most significant aspect of the past work of Christ is the atonement. Some people teach that the extent of the atonement is limited, while others teach that it is unlimited. Christ's present work is mediator and Lord. His future work is coming judge and reigning king.

  • Throughout Scripture, the Holy Spirit is referred to as having the attributes and performing the actions of a person. He is also shown to have the attributes of God, and is declared to be God. Both the Old and New Testaments cite examples of the work of the Holy Spirit in empowering people.

  • The work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is characterized by the empowerment of selective individuals for a temporary period of time, for the purpose accomplishing a specific task. The Old Testament prophets record a vision of the role of the Holy Spirit in the latter days.

  • The Holy Spirit had a central role in the life and ministry of Jesus. Many Old Testament passages prophesied the coming of a Spirit empowered Messiah. The New Testament records specific examples of the involvement of the Spirit in Jesus' life and ministry. Jesus also promises the future coming of the Holy Spirit and describes what he will do.

  • At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came into the world and filled the lives of every believer. The first great work of the Holy Spirit is bringing people to Christ. He also empowers believers for service in the Church where we are remade and conformed to the image of Christ. The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is for us to serve one another.

  • The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and bring attention to Jesus. He does this by empowering believers in the areas of evangelism and discipleship. There are specific gifts of the Spirit and He gives specific gifts to each believer. There is a question about whether all the gifts are still active today. There is also a distinction between people having a certain gift and God performing mighty acts.

  • The Holy Spirit accomplishes the work of regeneration in a person by bringing them new life. The Spirit also indwells and fills a believer, produces fruit and gives us the freedom to become what God created us to be. The Holy Spirit is also the guarantee of the hope of our eternal future in God's presence.

  • Rob Lister, a Garret Fellow, introduces concepts that are basic to the Biblical doctrine of salvation. Salvation is both physical and spiritual, includes all of creation, it is "already, but not yet," and the goal is the glory of God. Election is a key concept in Scripture. Some people think that there is a conditional aspect to election.

  • Rob Lister continues by reviewing the Arminian position (conditional election), then explains the Calvinist view. The Calvinist position is based on God's sovereign rulership over everything, salvation by grace alone, and God's love and justice. There are major differences between the ideas of conditional and unconditional election.

  • Among those who hold to the view of unconditional election, there are those who believe in single predestination, and those who believe in double predestination. There is also a difference between a "general call," and a "special" or "effectual call."

  • Continuing in the logical order of salvation, Rob Lister examines regeneration, conversion, justification, adoption and sanctification.

  • Christ is Lord of the Church and it is formed by the Spirit. As a community, we testify to what God has done in our lives through the ordinances, the proclamation of the word and the testimony of our lives. We worship God together, and Jews and Gentiles are united in one community, testifying to the preeminence of our identity in Christ.

  • The "mystery" of the Church refers to the truth that was formerly concealed, but now revealed. Another aspect of the "mystery" is the inclusion of Jews and Gentiles in one community of faith. There is some debate about whether or not Israel and the Church are the same. The "Body of Christ" and "Bride of Christ" are two metaphors used in the New Testament that refer to the Church.

  • An additional New Testament metaphor for the Church is a "Building," which is made up of the "Cornerstone," "Foundation" and the "Living Stones." "Christ's Flock" is also a metaphor for the Church and relates to Jesus as the "Good Shepherd." There are also passages in the New Testament that give us insight into local congregations by referring to elders as the leaders.

  • New Testament passages give specific instructions about the functions of elders in local congregations. There are also lists qualifications for elders that emphasize character qualities. The roles and qualifications for deacons are also given.

  • The question of the role of men and women in ministry is a significant issue. The main question is, "According to Scripture, is gender particularly and uniquely relevant in assessing whether or not a person is qualified for a given ministry in a church or home?"

    You can download the Roles Handout by right-clicking on the link and selecting the "Save Link As" option. 

  • Different denominations have chosen different models of hierarchy and leadership based on their understanding of Scripture. The two ordinances of the Church are Baptism and the Lord's Supper. They are ordained by Christ, point to the Cross, and are to be done in remembrance of what He has done for us.

  • There is value in studying eschatology besides curiosity about what will happen in the future. The three most common views of the millennium that can be supported by Scripture are postmillennialism, amillennialism and premillennialism. Also related to eschatology is the Scriptural teaching regarding physical death and the intermediate state.

  • Within the premillennial position, there is a difference of opinion on whether the rapture will be pretrib, midtrib or posttrib. Regardless of your position on the millennium, there is clear teaching in Scripture about the final judgment and our eternal state. There will be a final judgment and everyone will spend eternity either in heaven or hell.

The second of a two semester class on Systematic Theology.

1. The Doctrine of the Person and Work of Christ

    A. Pre-Incarnate Existence

    B. The Incarnation of Christ

    C. The Deity of Christ

        1. Names of God that are Ascribed to Christ

         2. Attributes of God that are Predicated of Christ

It is critical that we focus on incommunicable attributes. In the discussions of the attributes of God there are two categories. Communicable attributes are attributes that are communicated to us; not in terms of revealed to us, not communicated that God told us about them, but the actual attributes come to us in some finite measure. God is love, we are called to be love; God is holy, we are to be holy. Those are communicable attributes. There are also incommunicable attributes that is, attributes that are true of God alone; they are not true of us at all; not in finite measure, they are just true of God. So if Christ has these attributes that are true of God alone they support the deity of Christ.

I have three of these. Christ has many more attributes than these three but the point is incommunicable attributes that support His deity.

a. Eternity

In Isaiah 9:6-7 He is called Everlasting Father. What an amazing thing to say about Him that He is eternal; the one who is a child born and a son given. I think that the point of that is exactly what we pick up on; an incredible combination of finitude and infinity. This incredible combination of temporally related, a child born, a son given and His name is Eternal Father.

Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Micah 5:2-3 which speaks of Bethlehem as a place of Jesus’ birth.

Micah 5:2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:3 Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel.

Again you have the very same thing that is in Isaiah 9; this juxtaposition of a child given and one who is going forth from the days of eternity. This is an unusual child, when we were conceived we began period, we did not have an eternal existence that preceded that but this child does. He is eternal as well as temporal. That is what leads ultimately to the affirmation of the two natures of Christ.

John 1:4 in Him was life. Implied by John 1:1, in the beginning was the Word; just as in the beginning God created (Genesis 1:1). The implication of Genesis 1:1 is that everything that creates has a beginning, God Himself has no beginning. That is the same thing in John 1:1, everything that Christ creates John 1:3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:3 everything He creates has a beginning but Christ the Word has no beginning, in Him is life. It is His to be life.

John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

Revelation 1:8 which speaks of Him as the one who is and who was and who is to come; so this sweep of existence who is and was and is to come; always has existed, to put it in colloquial language.

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 22:12-13 repeats this same idea.

Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. Revelation 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

b. Immutability

Immutability is the changelessness of character and existence.

Hebrews 13:8. This is an astonishing statement in itself.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 1:10-12. Psalm 102 is quoted by the author to the Hebrews as the LORD is speaking and says this.

Hebrews 1:10 And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; Hebrews 1:11 They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment, Hebrews 1:12 And like a mantle You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”

In Psalm 102:25-27 it is clear that the one who will not come to an end, whose years never end in contrast to the heavens and the earth that change like garments are changed, in contrast to that is this one who endures forever, changeless is YAHWEH. There is no question in Psalm 102 that this is about YAHWEH, this is about the God of Israel and here (in Hebrews) this text is applied to Christ. All you have to do is read Psalm 102 on it own and then the quote of it in Hebrews 1 and marvel that this text said of the Son (this is part of the extension of that from back in Hebrews 1:5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, “You are My Son… )

Psalm 102:25 “Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. Psalm 102:26 “Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. Psalm 102:27 “But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.

Immutability must be understood as the unchangeability, the inability to change of God’s character, and existence. In a secondary sense the unchangeability of His word or promise that God doesn’t go back on what He said, He doesn’t break His promises, He doesn’t fail to keep His word. But that immutability is a second order, kind of immutability; those things are not necessarily eternal, God didn’t have to create a world, He didn’t have to say to Abraham, “through you all of the nations of the world will be blessed.” Those things are of a second order kind, but the primary immutability of God is His character, person, attributes of His essential being and that is said of Christ.

c. Omnipotence

Passages which speak of Christ as being almighty or having all power and authority

Philippians 3:20-21

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Philippians 3:21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

John 5:19

John 5:19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

Revelation 1:8 where besides the one who is and who was and who is to come He is the Almighty, the all powerful One.

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

d. The question of Christ’s Omniscience

Isn’t this an attribute of God that He alone possess, that is only God knows everything that can be known but don’t we have reason to think of Christ that He doesn’t necessarily know everything?

For example in Mark 13:31-32

Mark 13:31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. Mark 13:32 “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

Arius raised this issue, at least his followers did after the Council of Nicea as evidence that Christ was not divine. Here is a clear example. He raised other passages too like Colossians 1:15

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

They said that this was evidence that He was a created being, of course the next verse says

Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Everything has been created for Him and by Him, not everything else; so it clearly does not work in context.

This one of the passages Arius referred to (Mark 13:31-32) on the surface it is a tough thing to figure out. If He really is God then, how is it He doesn’t know what God knows? I am not going to answer that fully for you right now. I will just tell you where this answer needs to located; that is on the question of the Kenosis of what happens to the divine nature in the divine nature assuming human nature. What must take place for Jesus to live life, from cradle to grave as a man? That is a very important question and one that we want to linger over and spend a fair bit of time thinking about. We will come back to this question at that point, in that context being able to give, what at least for me, a very satisfying answer to the question, how is it He could not know this?

3. Works of God that are done by Christ

We have to have something like incommunicable works, although that is not a category used of works, things that only God can do that Christ does.

a. Creation

John 1:3 Christ is the creator

John 1:3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Colossians 1:15-16

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Hebrews 1:2-3

Hebrews 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

This is not creation in the way that we human beings can be creative. We have in our home lots of evidence of my wife’s creativity with all kinds of little projects that she has worked on that are now hanging on the wall. My wife is creative and every now and then I try to be creative with some project I am working on; usually fail at it but it is kind of fun to tinker with things. My first major project when I was in High School was coffee table. When you are working with wood and you don’t cut it just right you have to reshape it a bit smaller; I ended up at the end of the quarter with a candle holder. So it is not creative like that. This is the doctrine of creation ex nihilo, creation out of nothing. We can create with things, with wood I can make a candle holder; yes, I have done that. Can you create that out of nothing? No, we cannot do that. Only God can do that. Only God can bara (ברא) create is the Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Bara (ברא) is uniquely used with God as the subject. It refers, at least in some of its usages, creating out of nothing that takes place.

b. Preservation

Not only does Christ create the world as an agent of the Father He also preserves the world.

Colossians 1:17

Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:3

Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

He holds all things together by His power. I think that it is still the case that physicists do not know why an atom hold together; because the velocity and speed that electrons and neutrons and protons are spinning around in their orbits within an atom they ought to fly out, they don’t understand how an atom hold together. We know. It is one reason for thinking that if Christ were not supreme over all the universe simply could not exist.

c. He gives eternal life

Only God can do this. How often we have felt the angst over an unconverted person to whom we would love give eternal life; a mother, or a father, or a close friend, or a child. But we are incapable of doing that. Only God can give eternal life. Christ gives eternal life.

John 10:28

John 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

John 17:2

John 17:2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.

1 John 2:25

1 John 2:25 This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

d. Forgiveness of sin

Only God can forgive sins.

Colossians 1:14

Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 3:13

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Mark 2:5-12 and Luke 7:47-49. These are two passages in Scripture that are remarkable. The paralytic dropped down though the roof and they want him healed and He (Christ) says you sins are forgiven.

Isaiah 43:25 is a cross reference to this concept. This makes clear that God is the One who forgives. This is a mark of deity; not the only one. But it is a mark of deity. I do this, no one else can do this; can wipe out your sins, remove your transgressions from you.

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.

Only God can forgive sins. Aren’t we called to forgive one another? Is this a work that only God can do? What is the difference? What do we do if you forgive me for saying something to you that hurts you? In what sense are you forgiving me for this? What does that mean in human relationships? You release a need for justice. You release a mandate within you that says I am going to get back. To put it in simple language, you refuse to hold against the person the offense that they committed toward you. You refuse to hold it against them. The relationship will be restored. That is forgiving but what can’t we do in forgiving another person? We can’t remove the culpability, we can’t remove the guilt, we can’t pay the penalty. We cannot remove before God the guilt that is incurred. Even in a temporal sense there is a sense in which that is true in human relationships. If someone were to break into our house and steal something from us, or a car something really major, I could forgive this person, at least in theory, I hope I could, forgive this person so that there is no breach in relationship with them. But what I couldn’t do is say to the policeman, I have forgiven him and so don’t hold this against him. The policeman is going to say, I am sorry he is guilty of grand larceny or to make it even worse say murder. At some point the law will not be satisfied by my saying I am not going to hold it against him. How is God going to be satisfied? Only when a payment is made that will satisfy the wrath of God against your sin. Only God can forgive sins.

There is another way in which God forgives that we don’t forgive. Think of the episode in Mark 2 where they make a hole in the roof, these four men, and drop the paralytic down in from of Jesus and want Jesus to heal the man. That is point of doing it. What does Jesus say to him? He looks at the paralytic and said your sins are forgiven. How is that different from any kind of forgiveness that we extend to one another? What had this guy done to Jesus? We have no reason to think that the paralytic had offended Jesus or committed some crime against Jesus. What an odd thing to do if Keith and I were quarreling about something and I blew my top on this and sinned against him and Lea comes up and she says I forgive you Doctor Ware for what you did. In a personal relationship Keith could forgive me for the offense I caused him, Lea could not forgive me. What does that mean? Forgive on whose behalf, that is the point, forgive on God’s behalf. Christ can do this. Only God can forgive. It works for God because all sin is ultimately against Him.

4. Worship that belongs to God alone is given to Christ

a. Men, Angles - no 

There are two episodes where Peter and then Paul are about to be worshipped; that is people are attempting to worship them. When people express that, that they are going to worship them, they rent their clothes and cry out don’t worship us we are mere men, worship God.

Acts 10:25-26 is with Peter

Acts 10:25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. Acts 10:26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.”

Acts 14:11-15 with Paul

Acts 14:11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” Acts 14:12 And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Acts 14:13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. Acts 14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out Acts 14:15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

Revelation 19:8-10 and Revelation 22:8-9 the angel in the book of Revelation. Have you ever wondered why John would fall down to worship at the feet of the angel who revealed this to him? I think lets give John the benefit of the doubt here, if that angel appeared here in this room right now I have a feeling that we would drop on our faces and be strongly tempted to worship him because of the majesty and glory and beauty and power. We would think that God had come among us. Be gentle with John, after all the angel is the vehicle of God in this revelation but in any case the angel was not God and so when John falls down to worship at his feet it happens twice, the angel says rise up I am a creature like you are.

Revelation 19:8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” Revelation 19:10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 22:8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Revelation 22:9 But he said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.”

b. Only God is to worshipped

Acts 12:21-23

Acts 12:21a On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel,

There he is kingly, sort of like the faculty on commencment day or convocation (I call it peacock day – put on your robe and hood and all this stuff)

Acts 12:21b took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. Acts 12:22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Acts 12:23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Pastoral comment to all of us and especially those who entering into a ministry of preaching and teaching: Keep Herod in mind when you are tempted to take the glory to yourself for what God alone can do and if it was of eternal value did do, don’t take the glory to yourself. What do you have that has not been given to you by God (1 Corinthians 4:7).

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

So every gift that we have, every true thought that we think, every way of phrasing it, every bit alliteration that God gives you for sermon preparation, every thing you have is from the Lord. Every bit of ability for it to get out of you into a person in a way in which there is true benefit to them spiritually is the Lord’s work. If God does not take it home, it is not going to get home to people, the Spirit does it. Think about it often; meditate on if often until it becomes the fabric of your soul that you realize that you owe everything to God. Therefore He gets the glory not me, I get the pleasure of being the instrument. Why would He do that? He can do it better than I can. Why would He give me that privilege of conveying His truth? Why doesn’t He just do it Himself? Can you believe it, us that privilege? We get so much joy in it but we don’t get the glory for it.

c. Christ Himself is worshipped and accepts worship

He is worshipped right at the very beginning, at His birth the wise men come and worship Him in Matthew 2:11

Matthew 2:11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Hebrews 1:6 I think this is the reference where we are told that God commands there to be worship of the Son.

Hebrews 1:6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

This is the incarnation, the birth of Christ. So the hosts of heaven singing praises to God are worshipping the Son.

He accepts worship from others

John 5:23. Remember my glory I will not share with another says the LORD. What would Jesus be saying if He were not God and He said I have the same honor the Father has?

John 5:23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

John 9:35-39

John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” John 9:36 He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” John 9:37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” John 9:38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. John 9:39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”

Matt 21:9-16 at the triumphal entry people are crying out Hosanna Praising Him

Matthew 21:9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” Matthew 21:11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. Matthew 21:13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.” Matthew 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant Matthew 21:16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?”

Luke 19:37-40

Luke 19:37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, Luke 19:38 shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” Luke 19:40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

Matthew 28:9-10,17

Matthew 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Matthew 28:17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.

These are all examples of people worshipping Him before and after the crucifixion and He accepts that worship.

Perhaps one of the most notable of accepting it John 20:28 ff. Thomas’ my Lord and my God and John 20:29

John 20:28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

This is an expression of worship of Christ, my Lord and my God and He accepts it and embraces it.

d. The Father commands that Christ be worshipped

The Father commands that Christ be worshipped in Hebrews 1:6. Think of the significance of this. This is the same God who said, you shall worship the LORD your God and serve Him only. And in Hebrews 1:6 we have God commanding that the angels worship the Son.

Hebrews 1:6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

e. He is worshipped with the Father in the Eschaton.

Philippians 2:9-11

Philippians 2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, Philippians 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Philippians 2:11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In the age to come every single created being bowing and proclaiming Jesus Christ is Lord. It is one of the main reasons that C. S. Lewis is dead wrong on Hell being a place where the rebel’s flag is planted and the gates are locked from the inside; so he says in Problem of Pain in his chapter on Hell. If every knee has bowed and every tongue has confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord then the rebellion is over, the deception has been removed, people now know they are not God, they know Christ is Lord, they know God is God and all good is found in Him and they know Hell is horrid; unspeakable painful, unending torment. This does not add up to the gates of Hell are locked on the inside.

Revelation 5:8-14 this wonderful statement of the Lamb who slain along with God who is on His throne.

Revelation 5:8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Revelation 5:10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, Revelation 5:12 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.” Revelation 5:13a 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,

If that isn’t evidence of deity I don’t know what is.

Revelation 5:13b be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 5:14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Unmistakably Jesus is the Lamb slain who now with the Father is worshipped.

5. Christ’s own claims to deity

John 8:58 has got to be one of the most astonishing things ever uttered and uttered by Jesus

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

He is picking up not just His eternal existence which He is implying by that. Abraham lived 2000 years before Jesus; roughly the same amount of time before Christ as we are now after Christ. Before Abraham was I am; that is the key to it, egō eimi (ἐγώ εἰμί ) which is the Greek way of putting what you find in Exodus 3. What shall I tell them when they ask me who sent you?

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

We express that with the term YAHWEH or Jehovah, at it has sometimes been called when you conflate the vowels of Adonai with consonants of YAHWEH. YAHWEH, Jehovah of the Old Testament is what Christ is claiming to be; before Abraham was I am.

John 10:30

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

This is not one in purpose, one in desire, one in will because the Pharisees would have thought themselves to be one in purpose in those kinds of ways with the Father, they thought they were doing the will of the Father. But they took up stones to stone Him. So obviously they took that to mean one in essence, in essential nature, We are one in our very being.

John 17:5 this is so remarkable that Jesus prays that the glory that He once had with the Father would be given to Him again.

John 17:5 “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Parts of it are just incredible. The glory that I had with you;

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.

God is jealous for His glory. This is why it is such a serious matter that we don’t take glory to ourselves for what is God’s work because He doesn’t like this, He won’t permit it, He will discipline people who take to themselves the glory that is due to Him. What is the point of salvation?

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Ephesians 2:9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

In light of that background what an incredible statement for Jesus to say glorify me together with Yourself with the glory I had with You before the world was. So obviously this is a reference to His eternal existence with the Father having the glory of the Father being Himself God. There is no other way to understand this.

John 17:24 is also remarkable for some similar reasons and for other reasons

John 17:24a “Father, I desire that they also,

This is us, He is talking about those who believe on Your word, of these disciples, that is us all of these years later.

John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

There it is, eternally existing with the Father. I will come back to this at another point to this statement He makes; I want them to be with me so that they can look at Me, you have to think about, I want them to be with me forever in heaven so that they can look at me. It is a remarkable thing, it sounds awfully egotistical but remember is He is saying this for their benefit? What does this mean?

Some other statements made by Jesus that indicate that He came down from heaven, that He had authority that He had from beforehand.

Mark 14:61-62 He claims to be the Son of God with all authority and all power

Mark 14:61 But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Matthew 25:31-31 He claims to have absolute authority over the world in judgment that will come.

Matthew 25:31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

Matthew 26:63-64

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Matthew 26:64a Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man.

Son of Man quotes Daniel 7 embraces that of Himself. In Daniel 7 it is clear that the language used of the Son of Man is language of deity. Look back at Daniel 4 of what Nebuchadnezzar says about God and you will see it; it is the very same language that is now used of the Son of Man who came from the Ancient of Days.

Matthew 26:64b sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

The five arguments for the deity of Christ: 1. Names of God which are given to Christ, said of Him, 2. Attributes of God which are true of God alone are true of Christ, 3. Works that only God can do are done by Christ, 4. Worship to God alone given to Christ, commanded by the Father to go to Christ, accepted and embraced by Christ, and expressed in heaven and eternity to Christ from His incarnation to His eternal existence, 5. Jesus’ own self claim to deity.