Thursday, October 16, 2014

The Divinity of Christ in Scripture


The truth of the incarnation, the doctrine that the Son of God assumed the human nature and that therefore the mediator in one person is both very God and very man, is taught throughout Holy Writ:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this (Isa. 9: 6,7).

But thou, Bethlehem, Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2).

Then said Mary unto the angel, Hos shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be the Son of God (Luke 1:34, 35).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 14)

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory (1 Tim. 3:16).

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus is come in the flesh is of God (1 John 4:2).

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:5).

We call attention also to those passages that speak of Christ's divine nature. His divine nature is evident from the divine names that are given to Him. Christ is called God in 1 John 5:20: "This is the true God, and eternal life." We quote this text because it is sometimes alleged that Christ is never called "the God" (ὁ Θεὸς) with the article. But here He is emphatically called "the true God" (ὁ ἀληθινὸς Θεὸς). In Romans 9:5 we read of Christ: "who is over all, God blessed for ever" (ὁ ὢν ἐπὶ πάντων Θεὸς εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας). After the resurrection Thomas addressed Jesus Christ, saying, "My Lord and my God" (·Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου: literally, "The Lord, mine, and the God, mine" - John 20:28).

Further, divine attributes are ascribed to Christ, such as eternity and omnipotence. This is evident from Micah 5:2: "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Peter ascribes omniscience to the Lord:

[Jesus] saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep" (John 21:17).

The Lord calls Himself "the Almighty" (ὁ παντοκράτωρ): "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8).

Besides, divine works, such as creation, providence, remission of sins, and quickening are attributed to the mediator. John 1:3 speaks of the same Word who according to verse 14 was made flesh: "All things were made by Him: and without Him was not any thing made that was made."

For 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: Ad He is before all things, and by Him all things consist (Col. 1:16, 17).

And in Hebrews 1:3: "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Christ claimed to have power to forgive sins, which is certainly a divine work, as even the scribes and the Pharisees knew and testified:

And when he saw their faith, He said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgive thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but Go alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house (Luke 5:20-24).

John  5:21 speaks of Christ's quickening power: "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will."

Finally, it is well known that in Scripture divine honors are ascribed to Christ. Stephen called upon God and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59). Calling upon the name of Christ as Lord certainly is an act of worship. The same act Thomas performed after the resurrection of Christ when He cried out, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Besides, the honor of believing in His name is ascribed to Christ: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). From all these passages it is every plain that Christ is the true and co-eternal God with the Father and the Holy Spirit.


Herman Hoeksema 
Reformed Dogmatics, I: 494-497 
http://rfpa.org/collections/books-by-herman-hoeksema/products/reformed-dogmatics-volume-1 

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