Two Awesome Truths which Demonstrate the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ

One of the most fundamental beliefs of Christianity is the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is also one of the truths which sets true Christianity apart from false religions. We also believe that through the miracle of the incarnation, Jesus became fully human. Since that time He has been both fully human and fully God.

There are multitudes of articles and resources available which provide reams of evidence which show that the Bible does in fact teach the deity of Christ.  In this post I want to briefly share two simple truths from Scripture that line up with how people all over the world from all religions think about God. These two truths both demonstrate that Jesus is God. Of all the evidence for the deity of Christ, this evidence is most meaningful to me personally.

Truth #1: People all over the world believe that whoever created everything is God, and the Bible teaches that Jesus created everything!

Whoever is responsible for creating everything is God. This is a widespread understanding that seems to be hardwired into all humans. In a way, even atheists agree with it. Atheists believe that no one created everything, therefore they believe no one is god (or they treat nature as a type of god, without using that word).

In three Bible passages we are taught that Jesus created everything. It’s easy to remember where these passages are found: John 1, Colossians 1, and Hebrews 1. (All scripture is quoted from the NIV)

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 2 He was with God in the beginning.

 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. . . .

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

If you want to make something really emphatic and clear, one way to do so is to state it both positively and negatively. It’s easy to think of examples:

“I’m innocent, I did not commit the crime.”

“I’m staying here, I’m not going.”

“He’s lying. He’s not telling the truth.”

In all these examples, the first statement could logically stand on its own. The second part is added for emphasis.  John uses this exact strategy to emphasize the truth that Jesus created everything, thus establishing beyond doubt that John believes Jesus is God:

John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

The second half of John 1:3 suggests a simple illustration to help people like Jehovah Witness’s to see that they have misunderstood the Bible’s teaching about Jesus (this illustration is adapted from a helpful post at The Gospel Coalition). Logically, all things must go into one of these two categories: 1. Things that were made 2. Things that were never made. In light of John 1:3, which category does Jesus belong in?

The second passage is from Colossians:

Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

 16 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.

 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

In Colossians, Paul makes it explicitly clear that when we say Jesus created “all things,” this does not only include all visible, physical things that we can see in our world. It also includes all the angels and spiritual beings that were created. Jesus is not an angelic being, He is the Creator of all angelic beings.

The third passage is in Hebrews:

Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Both the passage in Colossians and the one in Hebrews state that all things were created “through” Christ. This shows that Jesus is the Creator and at the same time points to the Heavenly Father, thus providing support for the Trinity (although we would have to look at other verses to fully establish the Trinity).

The fact that Jesus created everything is enough by itself to establish that He is God. Yet, there is a second way in which we see the Bible talk about Jesus which lines up with how people all over the world view God.

Truth #2: People all over the world worship whoever or whatever they view to be God, and the Bible shows many people worshiping Jesus and teaches that one day all people will bow and worship Him.

People are hard wired to worship. When people don’t worship the true God, they tend to worship something else as a false god. Even if they don’t call it “worship”, most people worship something. And that something they are treating like God.

The connection between worship and God is made very explicit in the Scriptures. Jesus Himself quotes from the Old Testament to declare that we should worship no one other than God:

Matthew 4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "

Using the very same word for “worship”, Matthew shows people throughout His gospel worshiping Jesus. When the Apostle John started to worship a glorious angel, the angel warned him not to do that, but to only worship God (Revelation 19:10). But Jesus never objects to people worshiping Him:

Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Matthew 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

Matthew 28:17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Did all of these people who were worshiping Jesus clearly understand at that time that He was God in the flesh? Perhaps not, but they instinctively felt the glory of His deity and rightly responded in worship.

But it’s not just these people in Matthew who are going to worship Jesus. John is given visions of heavenly truth which he records in the book of Revelation. In these visions, John sees awesome worship of Jesus:

Revelation 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

 14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Finally, in Philippians, Paul reveals to us that one day every single living creature will worship Jesus:

Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

One of the defining characteristics of true Christians is that we aren’t waiting to start worshiping Jesus. We gladly worship Jesus as our Lord and Savior every day. Along with the Apostle Thomas, we cry out to Christ, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .