During times of persecution, the early Christians used a fish as a secret sign of identification. The first letters of each word in the expression “Jesus, Christ, Son of God, Savior” in Greek spell the Greek word for fish (ichthus).
Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7
New Testament Reading – Colossians 1:3-29
The Pillar and Ground of Truth
“The Deity of Jesus Christ”
Philippians 2:5-11
Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor
For 2000 years, Christians have believed in one God, who exists as three co-equal and co-eternal Persons, Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that they are ONE in being, UNITED in essence, power, and purpose, yet DISTINCT in their personality and their function.
- While the word “trinity” is not in the Bible, since we can see the evidence of the Triune nature of God manifested from Genesis to Revelation, we believe this doctrine is essential to our Christian Faith.
The New Testament asserts that while He was distinct from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, Jesus of Nazareth was identical in both nature and power, primarily because He was able to perform works only God could do.
- Therefore, the deity of Jesus is an essential doctrine and a non-negotiable belief within Christianity.
- Also known as the “divinity of Christ,” this doctrine asserts that Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God incarnate, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)
Jesus of Nazareth is the theme of all Scripture from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:1.
- In John 5:39, Jesus reproved the Jews: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
- We have no problem understanding that the 27 books of the New Testament are about Jesus.
- The four gospels tell us of His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
- The Book of Acts tells us of His ascension back into glory and how He sent the Holy Spirit to finish the work of the Church.
- The Epistles explain the eternal, as well as practical meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- The Book of Revelation tells of His return to this earth as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, how He will establish His kingdom upon this earth, as it is now in heaven, and how on that day, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
- However, when Jesus told the Jews that the Scriptures testified of Him, He was referring to the 39 books of the Old Testament.
- In John 1:41, when Andrew found Simon Peter, he told him, “We have found the Messiah,” which is translated, “Christ.”
- In John 1:45, “Philip found Nathanael and told him, we have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
- In Luke 24:27, when Jesus finally revealed Himself to the two men with whom he had walked on the road to Emmaus, the Bible says, “Beginning at Moses and the prophets, Jesus expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
- According to Revelation 19:10, Jesus is also the theme of biblical prophecy, which is why, in 1 Corinthians 1:23, the Apostle Paul said, “We Preach Christ.”
- In Colossians 1:28-29, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end, I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
- The Deity of Jesus – Vs. 6 – “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God!”
When petty jealousies arose among the members of the church at Philipp, the work of the church was hindered.
- The Apostle Paul urged them to get their minds off of themselves, look to Jesus, and imitate His humility in their attitude toward each other.
- In verse 5, Paul urged them to “let,” which meant that even though they were indwelt with the mind of Christ, they had to yield to it.
- In verse 6ff, Paul said Jesus had shown them how to yield.
- Jesus was “equal with God” – in nature, position, power, and authority.
- Jesus was not just “like” God as a holy man.
- Jesus did not “achieve” a high level of godliness through His lifestyle.
- Jesus did not “appear” to be God by His attitude toward life’s issues.
- Jesus was God of very God! He was deity clothed in the flesh of a human body.
- What separates Christianity from all religions is the fact that Jesus rose from the dead physically and visibly, and that validated His deity.
- The Humanity of Jesus – Vs. 7-8 – “He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man.”
Jesus was not only God of very God, but He was also man of very man, with one exception: He was without sin.
- Jesus did not give up His divine attributes when he “made Himself of no reputation?”
- Paul explained that with three statements:
- “Taking the form of a bondservant.”
- “Coming in the likeness of men.”
- “Found in appearance as a man.”
- While the Son of God, the second of the Triune Godhead, was on the earth as Jesus of Nazareth, He veiled His deity by a voluntary non-use of His divine attributes, except in those activities where He deliberately and intentionally revealed His deity.
- The Lordship of Jesus – Vs. 9-11 – “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name!”
Because of His willingness to lay aside His deity and suffer death for all humanity, God the Father did several things:
- He raised Him from the dead – God raised Jesus from the dead – “the first fruits” of those who would follow in faith, confirming His deity and His humanity among men.
- In Romans 1:4, Paul said Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
- He gave Him a name above every name – God gave Jesus a name symbolized majesty, honor, supremacy, and absolute authority – He was to be called LORD.
- In Acts 2:32-36, Peter said, “Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God…God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
- In 1 John 2:3-4, the Apostle described the test by which we can know that we know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.”
The Jews called GOD JEHOVAH or YAHWEH, which is God’s Holy Name. They considered JEHOVAH to be so holy they would not say it aloud except at extraordinary times, and only then by a priest.
- When the Jews saw the word JEHOVAH in the Scriptures, they would substitute the word ADONAI, which means
- The Greek word for LORD is KURIOUS, which means “One with supreme authority.”
- The English equivalent of the word LORD is MASTER, which is a title of respect and honor given to those in positions of power and authority.
- So, when the translators searched for a word to describe the One to whom all respect and honor is due; One to whom was given all power and authority in heaven and earth, they gave it to Jesus of Nazareth, for He alone is LORD, MASTER, ADONAI, JEHOVAH GOD.
