The concept of the humanity of jesus coexisting with his deity is difficult for the finite mind of man to comprehend. B before we enter into any argument over this subject i trust we are both conscious of the solemnity of the question. He also points out that ones estimation of jesus has. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of jesus christ in the flesh. This attack on the lord jesus christ is being executed in many ways by many different groups.
The son was declared at nicaea to be coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the father, which exact words gcbc uses in our doctrinal statement. Seven reasons why i believe in the full divinity of christ by. The deity of christ is of vital importance to the christian and we must be sure that the bible we are using upholds the deity of christ in every point. Christ is fully god being equated with the creator and the jehovah of the old. The meaning of the term hypostatic union as applied to christ the english word hypostasis is derived from a greek word meaning essence, actual being, reality william f. The preeminent importance of the doctrine of the deity of christ in the christian system is shown by the fact that this is the test by which we are to distinguish. If christ is not god, then the bible is a false witness, and the christian faith is in vain. The aim of this study is to stress the importance and necessity of jesus the christ being divine.
The implications of jesus christs deity werent defined until the counsels of nicaea ad 325, constantinople 381, and chalcedon 451, but millions of christians had already declared their allegiance to jesus christ, and thousands had died as martyrs as testimony to their faith in him. In a very real sense, every major doctrine of the christian faith converges in this one stupendous truth. The deity of jesus is considered an essential doctrine and is a central nonnegotiable belief within christianity. The bible directly states that jesus is god in a number of passages. The resurrection of jesus christ, attested to by hundreds of eyewitnesses 1 corinthians 15. The humanity of jesus is essential to the character of jesus as the christ. Infact, thegloryof the deity is not within the range of humansight, so heis the effulgenceoftheradiant gloryoftheinvisi ble deity heb. While he was on the earth all the fullness of deity dwelt in bodily form colossians 2. The deity of christ the first part of this booklet is adapted from dr. Come browse our large digital warehouse of free sample essays. These examples are adequate to demonstrate that the new testament contains a myriad of proof for the deity of jesus christ. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of his glory blameless with great joy, to the only god our savior, through jesus christ our lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Believing in the deity of christ is an important requirement for our salvation.
The deity of christ achieves the rare balance between scholarly credibility and accessible practicality. The gospel is the good news that jesus christ, the incarnate word and son of god, is savior and lord and that through the life, death and resurrection of jesus we have forgiveness and redemption from sin, new. Defending the deity of christ mission point is here for you. He accepted worship, claimed to to be preexistent with god, claimed titles of deity, forgave sins, and performed other acts attributed to god. Jesus was born as a human being while still being totally divine. Fsy conferences are fiveday events where you can strengthen your faith in jesus christ through gospel study, classes, and devotionals. How you answer this question is of utmost importance. The deity of jesus christ ankerberg theological research institute dr. The writer of the book of hebrews begins his argument that the new testament system of. Our pluralistic society is fine in accepting a general notion of god, but cringes at a god. A truth is one, and i do not believe we are right in speaking of one part as of more importance than another. Reymond underscores the importance of the deity of christ when he argues that the affirmation or denial of it affects every other point for christology and for systematic theology in general see his jesus, divine messiah, p.
Abstract since the time of the early church and centuries thereafter, christian theology in general has always acknowledged the authority of scripture. Philippians 3 exb the importance of christ bible gateway. I will go and do the things which the lord hath commanded. The virgin conception allows for the uniting of full humanity and full deity in one person. Deity of christ encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. So, denying the deity of jesus christ does not make his deity any less a fact, but it does make the denier of his deity guilty of awful, incredible blasphemous slander against the lord god of heaven. Father, the man is the son, and therefore i cannot believe what is commonly called the deity of christ. The concept of the deity of christ must not be set aside or approached lightly for it is the foundation upon which christians are born and the church stands. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in jesus christ. There may be reasons why the deity of christ might be controverted, but such reasons cannot be drawn from any serious acceptance of scripture. Philippians 3 expanded bible exb the importance of christ. Why is the deity of christ so important to the christian faith.
Christdeity 4 the name of jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that jesus christ is lord, to the glory of god the father. Unlike other religions, christianity possesses a founder who transcends death and promises that his followers will do the same. In order for jesus to be fully qualified to pay for our sin, he had to be a man. The writer of the book of hebrews begins his argument that the new testament system of christ is superior to the old testament law of moses. There is no man on earth who can meet the strict qualifications.
This is a forthright assertion of the deity of jesus christ. Thus, it refers to the real essence of a person or thing. You will see clearly that the bible teaches that jesus shares gods glory, his nature, and his image. John whitcomb and ivan french, and used by permission of grace theological seminary, winona lake, indiana.
Being a witness in the beginning god, unity of christs nature logic divinity of christ the existence of christ preexistence of christ before the beginning existence unity, gods goal of god with christ jesus christ, relation to father god being with you being different being unique adventure jesus christ, deity of. If our eyes are open, we see him as he appeared on the mount,notwithahaloabovehishead,butenveloped in anauraofglory, whichis gods. Although this truth exists in seed form in the old testament pss. The incarnation of the lord jesus christ is the central fact of. To them christ is a man, howbeit a great man, an unparalleled man, a unique man but still only a man.
The importance of the death of christ in the plan of salvation. Furthermore, these jews were intensely monotheistic. The scripture presupposes that jesus christ is god, therefore, scripture abounds with numerous implicit expressions of christs deity. Another reason the resurrection of jesus christ is important is that it proves his sinless character and divine nature.
I would point out to the person questioning the deity of christ how the great thinkers of each time eventually came back to the original premise for christ s deity. The death of jesus christ on the cross, followed by his glorious resurrection, is at the heart of the christian message. He also points out that ones estimation of jesus has consequences beyond this life, as jesus himself. For this reason i have chosen to devote this first message on the incarnation to the subject of the importance of the incarnation. Different christian beliefs about creation including the role of word and spirit john 1. The answer to this question is more important than anything else. Nevertheless, today, just as in jesus day, when christians ask. The most important question of the twentyfirst century is. Was he merely a man, one of the numerous prophets or teachers who roamed the world in that day, or someone else. Being a witness in the beginning god, unity of christs nature logic divinity of christ the existence of christ preexistence of christ before the beginning existence unity, gods goal of god with christ jesus christ, relation to father god being with you being different being unique adventure jesus christ. Jesus christ is omnipresent only god has the ability to be everywhere at once, yet jesus christ claims this ability. There is no more important biblical truth for the life and health of the church than the deity of christ. The aim of the socalled modernists is to dethrone christ and rob him of the attributes of deity. In order for this payment to be satisfactory to gold, it must be absolutely pure.
Many people may be interested in his teachings or healings, but in the big scheme of things, they. And their efforts have established believers in christ who for ages have worshiped and lived for him. The message of islam and the gospel of jesus christ written by. Also known as the divinity of christ, this doctrine asserts that jesus christ was and is the son of god incarnate. Troubling because the challenges kept coming, and they still do today. A truth is one, and i do not believe we are right in. This volume will inform your mind and feed your soul with the undeniable, undiminished deity of jesus. As the apostle paul stated, the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily col. It is vital to establish the doctrine of christs deity. Reading its pages generated waves of worship from each chapter. Why is the deity of christ so important to the christian. Inspiring because each heretical line of thought was defeated. The jesus christ of the new testament claimed to be one with god and equal with god. Did he have names, characteristics, works, worship of jehovah.
The importance of the incarnation might even be detected in religious. Presenting the deity of christ from the bible international journal of. The hypostatic union of jesus christ israel my glory. The six lines of proof of the deity of jesus christ which i have given you leave no possibility of doubting that jesus christ is god, that jesus of nazareth is god manifest in a human person, that he is a being to be worshipped, even as god the father is worshipped. Jan 02, 2020 the resurrection of jesus christ, attested to by hundreds of eyewitnesses 1 corinthians 15. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives.
Tonight were going to look at james, the brother of our lord, and have a wonderful time looking at that unlikely hero. Get the knowledge you need in order to pass your classes and more. Concerning jesus christ we read, god has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that jesus christ is lord, to the glory of god the father phil. I leave your own conscience to finish the sentence thus begun. Must a person have clear understanding of jesus christs. The resurrection of jesus christ is important as a testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is a basic tenet of the christian faith. The humanity of jesus is as equally important as the deity of jesus. Wilbur gingrich, a greekenglish lexicon of the new testament, p. Because mankind had sinned, the payment had to be made by a human being. There are still groups that deny his deity today, from muslims who say jesus was merely a prophet to jehovahs witnesses who insist that he is not equal to the father. Various cult groups, new age groups, and even modern bible translators have their own methods of robbing jesus christ of his deity.
By implicit i mean that while the subject matter of a particular passage of scripture may not be christs deity, it is nevertheless understood. The christian doctrine of the incarnation is the truth revealed in the bible that jesus christ is god the son come in the fleshthat he is both god and man, deity and humanity, in one person. To understand the incarnation is to understand the real meaning of christianity. The pages of the new testament are filled with thousands of people whose lives and words proclaim that jesus is lord. The sermon this morning following our commitment at this eightthirty hour that we are preaching on the doctrines of our faith. God, jesus christ, the trinity, the bible and authority, sin and reconciliation, sacraments, spiritual practices, and. Every person who knows himself to be saved and who has the assurance of communing with christ is by the nature of the experience driven to give his redeemer the highest place and bow before him in worship. Seven reasons why i believe in the full divinity of christ. Let us consider the reasons why it the doctrine of the incarnation is vital to every one of us. The deity of christ in hebrews 1 plain bible teaching. Implications of the deity of christ hills bible church. Denying christ is denying his death and resurrection and thereby denying the assurance of our salvation. But the indirect evidence of scripture is equally compelling. There are two prominent obstacles to believing in christ.
There is only one logical explanation for the abundant early testimony to the deity of jesus christ. It is the full deity of christ as taught in the scriptures and defined in this statement for which i contend. However, despite this general acknowledgment, there have been several antagonisms as far as. Biblical support for jesus christ being god the topic of jesus deity has come under scrutiny by many in this day and age. As i said at the beginning this is by no means all the verses where the modern versions take away from the deity of christ. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it will help you to be more ready l is a safeguardprotection for you. In early church history, one of the biggest theological debates centered on the deity of jesus christ. But christ is not a lifeless representation but a lifegiving illumination. Yet there are some who reject the deity of christ, claiming that he surrendered his deity when he came to earth. The message of islam and the gospel of jesus christ. The concept of the humanity of jesus coexisting with his. It is vital to establish the doctrine of christs deity as strongly as any truth can be established. Paul was committed to presenting christ and him crucified the holy spirit seeks to lift up the name of christ we must do the same when defending the faith we need to point people to christ.
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