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His Deity Is Evidenced From Fore-shadowings In The Old Testament
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1) |
A careful reading of Genesis chapter one will enlighten us to
the fact that on the sixth day of creation the Lord did two
works. He created the creatures of the animal world and man.
Between these two creative acts there is the statement: “Let us
make man” (Gen. 1:26). The fact that it is not: “I will make
man” but “us”, indicates a plurality of persons. Furthermore,
later it will also be recorded God says: “Behold, the man is
become as one of us” (Gen. 3:22), and “Go to, let us
go down” (Gen. 11:7), then in Isaiah God speaks saying: "Who
will go for
US?"
(Isa. 6:8).
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2) |
The statements made concerning the theophanies (the
manifestations of Christ) of the Old Testament can only be made
of one who is Deity. In those ancient days the Lord could be
manifested as a man (Gen. 18:1) or as the “Angel of the Lord”
(Gen. 16:7). The statements such as: “The Lord hath heard thy
affliction” and “Thou God seest me” (Gen. 16:11-13); “Where thou
vowedst a vow unto me” (Gen. 31:11-13); “I have seen God face to
face” (Gen. 32:30) all indicate His Deity. When there is added
that in Numbers 22: 22-35, the "Angel of the LORD" is referred
to 10 times in these verses, and then we read: "God's anger was
kindled . . . the Angel of the Lord stood in the way” (Num.
22:22). Finally, for this observation: "God hearkened . . .
and the Angel of God came again" (Jud. 13:9).
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3) |
When we add to this the fact that the three persons of the
Godhead are mentioned three times in close proximity, it is
evident the Lord Jesus is the fulness of deity. The three
verses are: |
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a) |
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; (Christ) because the
LORD hath anointed Me." (Isa. 61:1) |
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b) |
"In all their affliction He (God) was afflicted, and
the Angel of His presence saved them . . . and vexed His Holy
Spirit." (Isa. 63:9-10). |
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c) |
"I covenanted with you . . . My Spirit remaineth . . . the
desire of all nations”. (Hag. 2:5, 7) |
His Deity Is Evidenced By The Divine Attributes Which Are Ascribed To
Him By The Holy Spirit
There is a distinction between creating and making. As a baker I made
bread, that is, I took the ingredients needed and from them did that
which was necessary to make bread. However, to create something is to
take nothing from nowhere and make it something, and put it somewhere.
Man talks about creating life. He can do no such thing for he must have
certain elements to start with, one of them being life itself, thus in
reality he creates nothing. John writes of Christ saying: “All things
were made by Him” (Jn. 1:3), but this goes beyond making, for He is the
creator of all things (Col. 1:16). The words “were made” is “ginomai”
which, as pointed out above, means to “cause to be” or “all things came
into being by Him”, and that He is Deity is confirmed by the words “And
God said” (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26); “By the word of the LORD
(Jehovah) were the heavens made and all the host of them” (Psa. 33:6);
“O Lord (Jehovah). . . in wisdom hast Thou made them all” (Psa.
104:24). Only Deity could create, make, and sustain all things.
His Deity Is Evidenced By The Position Given Him Of Being The Judge Of
All Humanity
One cannot help but consider the words of the ancient patriarch Abraham:
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25). One of
the righteous judgments He makes is the appointing of Christ to be the
Judge, for John records: “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed
all judgment unto the Son” (Jn. 5:22). Then there is added: “Hath given
Him authority to execute judgment” (Jn. 5:27), thus Christ not only can
judge but execute the judgment. To be the perfect and righteous Judge
He must have accuracy of knowledge concerning
every environment in which we
lived, the degree of spiritual knowledge and understanding
we
had.
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Who but Deity could: |
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Judge according to ones judgment on another (Rom. 2:1) |
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Judge according to truth (Rom. 2:2) |
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Judge according to the blessings received (Rom. 2:4) |
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Judge according to righteousness (Rom. 2:5) |
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Judge according to one’s works (Rom. 2:6) |
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Judge without partiality (Rom. 2:11) |
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Judge according to light given (Rom. 2:12) |
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Judge according to “my gospel” (Rom. 2:16) |
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Judge according to profession (Rom. 2:17-22) |
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Judge according to motives (1 Cor. 4:5) |
His Deity Is Evidenced By His All-knowing
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The Psalmist informs us by inspiration concerning God: “Thou
knowest my downsitting . . . Thou understandest my thought afar
off” (Psa. 139:2). How clearly this is seen in the Lord. |
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He knew people, individually and universally. (Jn. 2:24) |
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He knew the possibilities and privileges of prayer. (Jn. 15:7) |
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Relative to that which He must experience. (Mk. 8:31; Mk. 9:12;
Lk. 17:25) |
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Relative to the position God had decreed for Him. (Matt. 16:28;
Jn. 6:62) |
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What Peter would be. (Jn. 1:42) |
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f) |
Where Nathaniel had been and the Lord says: “I saw thee”. (Jn.
1:48) |
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g) |
What was in the individual. (Jn. 2:25) |
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What man was universally. (Jn. 2:24) |
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The woman's marital standing. (Jn. 4:18) |
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How long the man had laid there. (Jn. 5:6) |
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Where the disciples were. (Jn. 6:19-20) |
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Why the people followed Him. (Jn. 6:26) |
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Why the man was born blind. (Jn. 9:3) |
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The character of Lazarus, his sickness and death. (Jn. 11:4) |
His Deity Is Evidenced By His Words, The Exclusiveness Of His
Declarations
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1) |
“What was it about His words that evidenced
His Deity?” It is often said that the words “I am” in John,
signify the Deity of the Lord. This I believe is an error for
the identical words in the same tense are spoken by others, and
at times when spoken by the Lord are to signify who He is. To
my understanding, it is the expressions which follow
that signifies His Deity. Expressions such as: “The
resurrection and the life” (Jn. 11:25) and “The door, by me if
any man enter in he shall be saved” (Jn. 10:9). |
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The use of the Clause “I am”: |
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Does this indicate Deity or is it that which we have read into
it? |
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There is much teaching on the “I Am’s” of the gospel of John,
and the words “ego eimi”. This is presented as showing the Lord
using the Old Testament name for God when He said to Moses: “I
AM” hath sent thee (Ex. 3:14) However, when this expression is
considered in the gospels it is soon observed that it is used
by: John the Baptist (Jn. 1:20, 27; 3:28); those who are false
christs and blasphemers (Mk. 13:6); Zacharias (Lk. 1.18);
Gabriel the angel (Lk. 1.19); and
the man born blind (Jn. 9:9). None of these were claiming
Deity! |
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ii) |
Furthermore, it is not only in John that the Lord uses this
expression, it is used in all four gospels. (Matt. 20:15; 22:32;
24:5; 28:20; Mk. 14:62; Lk. 22:27, 70) |
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A careful observing will show that the “I Am’s” of John divide
into five groupings: |
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His personal presence: |
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“Ye shall seek me, and shall not find [me]: and where I am,
[thither] ye cannot come.” (Jn. 7:34). |
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(b) |
Also the same truth in Jn. 7:36; 8:18, 23; 12:26; 17:24. |
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Identification: |
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As to His being the Christ: “I said therefore unto you, that ye
shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye
shall die in your sins”. (Jn. 8:24) and the same truth in Jn.
13:19. |
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(b) |
As His being the Son of Man: “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye
have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He,
and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught
me, I speak these things” (Jn. 8:28). |
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(c) |
As His being the One they sought, that is Jesus: “They answered
him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am [he]. And
Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them” (Jn. 18:5, 6,
8) |
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(d) |
As to His Position: “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a
king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To
this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world,
that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of
the truth heareth my voice” (Jn. 18:37) |
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As to His exclusiveness in the spiritual realm: |
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“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man
eat of this bread, he shall live for ever” (Jn. 6:51) |
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“The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread
which came down from heaven” (Jn. 6:41) |
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(iii) |
“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, I am the door of the sheep” (Jn. 10:7) |
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(iv) |
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12) |
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(v) |
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for
the sheep” (Jn. 10:11) |
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(vi) |
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he
that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (Jn.
11:25) |
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(vii) |
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (Jn.
10:9) |
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(viii) |
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me" (Jn. 14:6) |
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“I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me,
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me
ye can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5) |
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These statements were absolutes and exclusive. He never said:
“I am a Door, or Way or Light”, but it was a definite fact,
which none other could say. |
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Allegorical: |
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“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that
cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me
shall never thirst” (Jn. 6:35). Also Jn. 6:51; 8:12; 10:9, 11;
11:25; 14:6; 15:5. |
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Durational: |
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(a) |
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before
Abraham was, I am” (Jn. 8:58) |
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Distinction from the world: |
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(a) |
“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them,
because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the
world” (Jn. 17:14, 16) |
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Continued in Part 3 . . . . . .
May
God grant us good understanding as He, by His Holy
Spirit, deigns to guide us into all truth.
John 16:13
Copyright © 2012 by Rowan Jennings, Abbotsford,
British Columbia
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