The Deity of Christ
Minister’s Letter - 3 June 2022
Friends in Christ,
Have you ever had anyone ask you where in the New Testament it says in black and white that Jesus is God? Of course, such a question ignores the fact that if someone just baldly claims outright to be divine, you may be more inclined to think they had mental health challenges. And yet Christians believe Jesus is God, the eternal Son of the Father.
So for example, read Colossians 1:15-23. This passage teaches that Jesus is fully God. He perfectly images and reveals the invisible God. And with God the Father, Jesus is the Creator of all things.
So to deny this – as liberals, Muslims, JWs and Dan Brown’s books do – is to deny the true Jesus.
Some years back, I read a book called Putting Jesus in his Place: the Case for the Deity of Christ by Robert Bowman and Ed Komoszewski. Some people who claim to respect the Bible suggest it does not teach that Jesus is God. This book overwhelmingly demonstrates that the New Testament – from beginning to end – clearly reveals Jesus’ divine identity.
The book was scholarly. But it was also spiritually engaging and practical. The authors supply an acronym for recalling this evidence: Jesus shares God’s ‘H.A.N.D.S.’!
Honours: Jesus shares the honours due to God. E.g., in John 5:23, Jesus teaches that it is God’s purpose “that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.” (NIV)
Attributes: Jesus shares the attributes of God. E.g. As I mentioned above, Col 1:16 teaches that “all things were created by him” [i.e. Jesus]. The very next verse also teaches his eternal pre-existence, since “He is before all things.”
Names: Jesus shares the names of God. E.g. Thomas calls Jesus ‘Lord’ and ‘God’ in John 20:28; Paul calls him ‘God and Saviour’ in Titus 2:13. Think too of how Jesus calls himself Alpha and Omega (Rev 22:13), just like God (Rev 1:8, 21:6).
Deeds: Jesus shares in the deeds that God does. We’ve already seen this in regards to creation itself, but think further of such miracles as Jesus calming the wind and waves (compare Mark 4:35-41 with Psalms 65:7, 89:9, 107:29).
Seat: Jesus shares the seat of God’s throne. At his trial, Jesus says people will see him “seated at the right hand of Power” (Mark 14:62). And in Revelation, Jesus is worshipped alongside God and is seated on the same throne (5:11-14, 22:1&3).
I warn you that just quoting these verses to JWs could result in a game of Bible 'ping pong', and we need to think wisely about how we discuss these matters with others. But I do want you to be confident that when we are in the hands of Jesus, we are in the hands of God himself.
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney