The Divinity Of Christ

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ~John 1:1

(A defense against the false belief of Jehovah's Witnesses, Iglesia ni Cristo and other religious groups who deny the deity of Christ.)

In this particular verse John brings us back to eternity past farther than what Moses narrates in Genesis 1:1. He informs us who Jesus was prior to His human birth in Bethlehem. John calls Jesus by a very unique name; "The Word;" and in other places, "The Word of Life" (1Jn 1:1-2); "The Word of God" (Rev 19:13). John farther testifies that “no man hath seen God at any time: the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of his Father, he hath declared Him" (John 1:18).

I. John's Testimony

1. Jesus' eternal existence—

“In the beginning was the Word,” even before any creature existed, either in heaven or on earth: and from Him every created being derived its existence (John 1:1). So Paul also informs us: “By him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things; and by him all things consist" (Col. 1:16-17). Though He was born into the world in time, yet in His divine nature He existed from eternity: “He was the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever" (Heb. 13:8). “His goings-forth were of old from everlasting" (Mic. 5:2): “He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last" (Rev. 1:8; Rev. 1:11).

2. Jesus' distinct personality—

From all eternity Jesus was with God; having the glory with Him before the worlds were made (John 17:5)  and having a perfect participation of all that the Father possessed, whether of wisdom and knowledge, (Matt. 11:27) or of authority and power (John 5:17). This appears from the council held, as it were, between the Father and the Son, respecting the formation of man (Gen. 1:26); and man’s consequent expulsion from Paradise (Gen. 3:22); and the confounding of the projects of man’s apostate race by changing their language at Babel (Gen. 11:7). Hence the Lord Jesus is said to have “come forth from God" (John 16:27-28) even “from His bosom” (John 1:18) where had been His everlasting abode. The importance of this truth is marked by the repetition of it by John, in the words following my text, “the same was in the beginning with God.”

3. Jesus' proper deity—

“The Word was God,” even “the mighty God" (Isa. 9:6), “the great God" (Tit. 2:13), “God over all, blessed for ever" (Rom. 9:5). “He was in the form of God; and thought it no robbery to be equal with God" (Phil. 2:6); and was therefore rightly “named Emmanuel, God with us" (Matt. 1:23); and is with truth declared to be “God manifest in the flesh" (1Tim. 3:16).

II. Jesus' Work

1. The efficacy of all that Jesus did for us on earth—

Had Jesus been only a creature, He could only have done what an ordinary man can possibly do. But being God, He has accomplished a great achievement for all mankind. He suffered and died that He may put it to our own account---instead of we should suffer and die for our sins. His sufferings, though only for a season, may well be regarded as equivalent to the eternal sufferings of man; and his obedience to the law be justly considered as if all mankind had obeyed it. What Jesus did for us all is of infinite value. As what the Bible say; "for God (He) hath made Jesus (Him) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2Cor.  5:21).

2. The efficacy of all that Jesus is yet doing for us in heaven—

There is our adorable Saviour seated at the right hand of God; and all judgment is committed to Him, that He may complete for His people the work which He began on earth. He is appointed “Head over all things to the Church" (Eph. 1:22). But supposing Him to be a mere creature, how can He attend to all at once, and supply the necessities of all, in every quarter of the universe, at the same instant of time? But there is no room for such a question as that, seeing He is the omnipresent, omniscient, Almighty God. “Our help is, indeed, laid upon One that is mighty" (Psa. 89:19), upon One that is Almighty, “in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). We need not fear, therefore, however great our necessities; but be fully assured, that “He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him" (Heb. 7:25).

III. Our Response

1. God is reaching us!

How foolish are those who call in question the Divinity of Christ: for it is impossible for a truly enlightened man to doubt it. Oh! how marvelous and wonderful it is to know that God should become a man, and make Himself the surety and substitute of His own rebellious creatures. This may sound impossible to man. But God is God, and therefore can do it: He is God, and therefore cannot be judged by the finite capacity of man. In doing what He has done, He has acted like Himself. He is God, and therefore I believe all that He has done for sinful man. Though Himself eternal, He has been born in time: though eternally with God, He has come down and dwelt with man: though Himself the true and Living God, He has become a man, yea, and died for man upon the cross. I believe it, because He has revealed it. I believe it, because believing in Him satisfies all my longings and supplies all my necessities.

2. God satisfies us.

The doctrine of the deity of Christ meets my every need. I have guilt, which nothing less than “the blood of God” can wash away (Acts 20:28). I have corruptions, which none but the Spirit of God can subdue and mortify. I have wants, which none but the all-sufficient God can supply. Having Jesus as my all in all, I fear nothing. I hope in Him; and believe in Him; and glory in Him; and make Him “all my salvation and all my desire.” Trusting in him, I will defy all my enemies (Rom. 8:31): and, “believing in Him,” I will anticipate in my soul all the glory and blessedness of heaven (1Pet. 1:8).

How about you? Do you know my Jesus? Have you heard that He loves you so much? Come to Him right NOW and be saved by God's amazing grace.

By: Maximiano Tagactac