The Deity of Jesus Christ

MAIN TEXT: JOHN 1:1-3

HIGHLIGHT VERSE: JOHN 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (NIV)

TOPIC POINTS:

1. Jesus Does Not Have A Beginning – John 1:1a
2. Jesus Always Had A Relationship With God the Father – John 1:1b-2
3. Jesus Is the Creator of All Things – John 1:3

INTRODUCTION:

In the 4th century, there was a church elder named Arius from Alexander, Egypt. He challenged the church’s teaching of the deity of Jesus Christ. He insisted that Jesus had a beginning. This led to the gathering of over 350 bishops and church elders in the council of Nicea in 325 AD. He was condemned as a heretic and excommunicated from the church.

Our lesson today is really an extension to our previous lesson on the triune nature of God. Jesus as the second person of the Trinity is truly divine in His essence. It is impossible for someone who denies this to be considered a believer.

Jesus says to the Jews of His day, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” – John 8:24

JESUS DOES NOT HAVE A BEGINNING

– JOHN 1:1A

‘The Word’ in this text refers to Jesus. As far back as you go in history, even right to the beginning, Jesus was already in existence. He was not created.

Some heretical groups point to the word ‘firstborn’ in Colossians 1:15 to say that Jesus was the first person created. The word is ‘πρωτότοκος’ which refers to the status and position of Christ as supreme over creation and the heir to all things.

Just as God calls Israel, ‘...my firstborn son’ in Exodus 4:22, it will be silly to think God meant Israel was the first nation created. It is clear God is referring to Israel's supreme status and position in His sight compared to other nations.

Before His arrest, Jesus prays in His High-Priestly Prayer, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” He also claimed to be the “I am” who existed before the birth of Abraham. This made the Jews want to stone him.

Just like the Father, Jesus does not have a beginning. He has always been with the Father since the beginning. This testifies to his nature as true God.

JESUS ALWAYS HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER

– JOHN 1:1B-2

Jesus’ relationship with God the Father is further proof of His deity. This relationship is an eternal relationship without a beginning. Before the creation of the world, Jesus was with the Father. According to John 1:1c, ‘the Word was God’, pointing to Jesus’ full deity in the beginning.

Jesus knows the Father perfectly since He has always been in relationship with the Father. He is therefore the one who can perfectly reveal the Father (John 1:18, Matthew 11:27). We see Jesus do this in His life and ministry on earth – His teachings, sermons, and miracles. This separates him from every other patriarch or prophet.

Some of Jesus’ statements only make sense in light of His deity. “If you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24), “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). No mere man, prophet or angel can speak in such a way about themselves.

JESUS IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS

– JOHN 1:3

The act of creation is only rightly attributed to God. No mere man, prophet or angel can be said to have created all things. Yet the Bible repeatedly identifies Jesus as the creator of all things.

In John 1:10, He is said to be the one through whom the world was made. Paul writing to the church in Colossae says, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” He is not only the creator of all things but also the one who sustains it all.

The letter to the Hebrews teaches us that Jesus is far greater than angels, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, the High Priests, Melchizedek, and all the temple sacrifices. Right in the first chapter, He is said to have laid the foundations of the earth, the Father Himself addresses Him as God and commands all angels to worship Him.

CONCLUSION:

One of the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith is the deity of Jesus Christ. We hope through this lesson to bring clarity on this matter with a blueprint of how to defend it.

The very salvation of our souls hinges on this matter and should be a reason for somber reflection. As Jesus Himself said, “If you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

• Give a summary of our main text
• Recite our highlight verse
• Who was the 4th century heretic mentioned in our lesson?
• What did he teach?
• Which council condemned and excommunicated him?
• Can someone deny the deity of Jesus Christ and be saved?
• What does John 1:1a teach us about the origin of Jesus?
• ‘Firstborn’ in Colossians 1:15 means Jesus was the first created, true or false?
• Mention 3 biblical proofs for Jesus’ deity
• What does John 1:1b teach us about the relationship of Jesus to the Father?
• How does Jesus reveal the Father?
• Mention 5 statements of Jesus that only make sense in light of His deity
• Mention 3 biblical proofs for Jesus’ role in creation?
• What does Hebrews 1 teach us about Christ?