Jesus’ Deity

Jesus’ Deity

Jesus’ Deity – In His Own Words

By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© November 13, 2011
www.pastorkennedy.com
(On the website above, click the link to “recent message notes” to view this message online.)

What is it?

The atheists laugh and scoff at it…
The cults adamantly deny it…
The forces of hell angrily hate it…
The liberal theologians gingerly tiptoe around it…
The average non-believer seriously questions it…
The Bible teaches it…
The Believer in Christ embraces it as Truth….

What is it? It is, the Deity of Jesus Christ.

We have been studying the New Testament book of John.

In the first four chapters of John we have reviewed:

Jesus Christ, The Word

The Word of God – The Authenticity of the Bible

The Trinity 
Light - Jesus Christ 
What “Born Again” Means 
Pointing - John the Baptist’s Example to us

Amazing Humility - The Incarnation 
Miracles, Pt. 1 
Miracles, Pt 2 (the Illusive Properties of) 
Looking to the Lamb 
The Bigoted Christian 
Local Woman - Jacob’s Well 
The Struggle for Faith 

Today, the passage in John 5 is a study of Christ’s own words regarding His equal relationship with God the Father. It is through passages such as this, and other specific references that the doctrine of the Trinity has been revealed.

Today we are studying about the Deity of Jesus Christ. Why should we be concerned with properly understanding Christ’s Deity?

This Truth is what we call a primary “Doctrine” of Biblical Christianity.

Of what importance is a primary “Doctrine”? “Doctrines” in Biblical Christianity are different than the business or health “opportunities” that the world promotes as bettering our physical lives, should we take advantage of them.

We are constantly bombarded with advertising from pharmaceutical corporations promoting different health benefits if certain medication from their company is taken. Food and clothing franchises flash glitzy commercials enticing hungry and vogue conscious cultures to purchase their commodities.

Biblical Doctrine is not the flashing neon banner over a social organization saying, “Come over to our church franchise or social network, because these beliefs will make you more successful!”

Biblical Doctrine should be treated with more respect than a “Law – in time and space”. Understanding and believing Scriptural Truth is more imperative for us than understanding the Laws of Nature or the Laws of Physics. We may certainly not comprehend the Law of Gravity, but we experience severe pain when we fall and break something. Similarly we may not comprehend all of Scriptural Truth, but we will certainly experience the profound outcome of its reality. That is why it is imperative for us to “know the Truth and the Truth will set us free!” We dare not believe a lie!

Belief in foundational Biblical Doctrine, regardless of the local social organization (which we call church), affects our eternal destiny.

What we do with Christ, affects us eternally.

What does “the Deity of Christ” mean to those who are followers of Christ?

• It means that the redemption of Christ’s Blood, on our behalf, for our sins, is effectual – it works before God.
• It means that we can then be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit through “New Birth”, into the Kingdom of God.
• It means that we have a living hope for eternal life after we die, or are translated to be with Christ when He returns, if we have not died.
• It means that Christ will return one day, that Christ will give life to all those who have died.
• It means that Christ has the power to be the final Judge over everyone who has ever lived.
• It means that Christ has the power to condemn those who deserve it to the eternal lake of fire.
• It means that Christ has the power to justly and eternally reward those to whom He gives eternal life.
• It means that Christ has prepared an amazing Eternal place for those who love Him and serve Him.
• It means that Christ will rule and reign forever as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Christ cannot be all of these things without being equal with God - Deity.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God…God, the Son.

This passage follows Jesus’ healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda who, afterward, was caught up in seeking to appease the legalism of the Pharisees, even after being immobile for 38 years before being healed by Jesus!

Jesus Declaration as the Son of God made Him Equal with God the Father

John 5:18
18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Here is the Response that Jesus Gave Regarding His Equality with God the Father

John 5:19–47

1. Inseparable Unity Reveals Christ’s Equality with God the Father

John 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

The Father and Son are Unified in Who They Are and in what They do – They are One.

2. Love and Revelation from the Father shows Equality

John 5:20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. (“These” most likely refers to the healing they had just seen, of the severely crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda.)

The Father Loves the Son and Reveals All He Does to the Son

3. Jesus’ Life-giving Power

John 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

The Father Raises the Dead and Gives Life; so the Son Gives Life as He Pleases

• Lazarus was raised from the dead by Christ (John 11),
• The widow’s son was raised from the dead by Christ (Luke 7:11-17),
• Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from death (Luke 8:40-56),
• Many on the verge of dying are kept from dying, during Jesus’ ministry on earth.

In a few more verses, we will see that one day there will be generations upon generations from the beginning of the world who will be raised from the dead to face eternal judgment. Jesus will raise each of those.

4. Jesus is Equal in Judgment

John 5:22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,

God the Father has given all Judgment to the Son – why? Because the Son has taken the Judgment of Sin on Himself, with His ultimate Sacrifice on the Cross. He is now Judge over sin and those who have given themselves to its rebellion against God.

5. Jesus is Equal in Honor

John 5:23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

Who can say that Jesus is not Deity, if He is deserving of the same Honor as the Father?

6. Jesus Gives Eternal Life

John 5:24a “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned;

Those who Hear the Son’s Words and Believe Him have Eternal Life – these will not be condemned!

7. Those who believe in Jesus have “Crossed Over” from Death to Life

John 5:24b he has crossed over from death to life.

The Individual who Believes that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, the Messiah and Savior of the world, has crossed over from Death to Life…from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light!

8. Jesus has Resurrection Authority

John 5:25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

The Believing Dead who will Hear the Voice of the Son of God, will Live – eternally!

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

9. As the Father has Life, so the Son has Life

John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.

• The Creation of Mankind

Genesis 2:7 – The Breath of Physical Life…
7 the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

• Spiritual Life in the Valley of the Dry Bones – Ezekiel 37 – the Life-giving Spirit.

• Spiritual Life through the Coming of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2 – Spiritual Living Water (John 4) and New Birth (John 3).

John 7:37–39
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

…As the Father has Life, so the Son has Life – The Life-giving Power of the Holy Spirit.

10. Jesus Christ is Given Judgment Authority

John 5:27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

The Father has given the Son Authority to Judge Mankind…because He is the Son of Man

The Prophet Daniel’s Vision…Throne of Judgment set up and Judgment on the Antichrist

Daniel 7:9–14
9 “As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.
11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

The Son of Man (a critical reference to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ)
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power;
all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

11. Jesus Christ is given Resurrection Authority with Judgment Authority

Earlier, in vs. 25, Jesus speaks of having been given “Resurrection Authority”.

John 5:25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

Those who hear His voice “will live”.

Now we see, in vs. 28, that Jesus’ Resurrection Authority also comes with Judgment Authority…Authority to not only with those “caught up to meet Him in the air”, but also to Judge and give Damnation to those who are evil.
John 5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

All of the Dead small and great will hear the voice of the Son of Man and will come out of their graves – the Righteous in Christ, to Live eternally in Christ’s Kingdom; the unrighteous to be condemned!

Revelation 20:11–15
The Dead Are Judged
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

12. Jesus Christ is Just in His Judgment

John 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

The Son Judges as the Father would Judge – He and His Father are unified in their Judgment…can anyone other than Jesus Christ say this in Truth?

Who Authenticates the Reality of Christ being the Actual Son of God?

A. John the Baptist, Jesus’ human forerunner gives Authenticity to Christ being the Son of God.
John the Baptist testified that Jesus Christ was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 3:36).

John 5:31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.
33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
36a “I have testimony weightier than that of John.

B. The Profound Miracles Performed by Jesus give yet a Weightier Authenticity of His Deity

John 5:36b For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.

C. Jesus’ Deity is Primarily Authenticated by God the Father

John 5:37a And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.

When? When Jesus was on earth:

• At Jesus Baptism (Matt. 3:17),
• On the Mt. of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-5),
• See also John 12:28.

• Of course, Jesus’ authorization from His Father was and is continuous in the hearts of those who believe and in the reality of all the domains of the universe.

Colossians 1:16–20
16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Serious Spiritual Issues Facing those Disbelieving Christ’s Deity:

John 5:37b - 44
1. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form,
2. 38 nor does His word dwell in you,
3. for you do not believe the one He sent.
4. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.
5. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, 40 yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.
6. 41 “I do not accept praise from men, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.
7. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not accept Me;
8. but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
9. 44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

Moses: Their “Hero”, is also the Prime Witness before God against them.

John 5:45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

The Accusation against them before God the Father will be from the very one whom they hold as their religious teacher…on whom their hopes are set for salvation!

Conclusion

What part does the realization of the Deity of Christ play in our hearts, today?

Will we commit our lives to Jesus Christ the Son of God, and serve Him daily as our Savior, Lord and King?