SOME FUNDAMENTALS - THE DEITY OF CHRIST

The deity of Christ is a truth of vital importance but it has often been bitterly opposed. Twice in the Bible when He asserted His deity the Jews took up stones to stone Jesus, and on the second occasion said "For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, and because thou, being a man, makest thyself God", John 10: 33. But the truth is that although His Godhead glory was veiled, the lowly Man who asked a drink from the woman at Sychar's well was not only truly Man, but truly God. If we accept that the Scriptures are inspired, we must necessarily accept that Christ "is over all, God blessed for ever", Rom 9: 5.

The apostle John commenced his gospel narrative with those stupendous statements "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". In past eternity, the One who was known here by the disciples as "the Word" was always there. We know little of those eternal conditions before time, but we do know that He was with God, a distinct Personality, in the form of God and equal with God (see Phil 2: 6).

We do not know when the angels were created or just when the heavens and earth were created, but we do know that "without him not one thing received being which has received being", John 1: 3. When we think how extensive the universe is and of the comparative minuteness of man we are impressed with the immeasurable greatness of the One of whom it is written: "All things have been created by him and for him ", Col 1: 16. But when the heavens and earth have served their purpose and are changed, He will remain eternally "the Same", Heb 1: 12.

In connection with the birth of Jesus the gospel writer quotes the prophetic scripture: "They shall call his name Emmanuel, which is, being interpreted, 'God with us'". The incarnation is no doubt the most marvellous event of all time. In the Babe of Bethlehem's manger God was manifest in flesh. No wonder that in His pathway here the Godhead glory shone through the human veil. When he quietened the turbulent elements men might well say as they did with astonishment: "Who then is this?", Luke 8: 25.

The very name of Jesus involves His deity, and that He would save His people from their sins. He never ceased to be what He was as God because of what He became. As Man He went to the cross, but unless He had been divine (Jehovah's fellow - see Zech 13: 7) He could not have sustained and exhausted vicariously as He did all the wrath of God against sin. Blessed be His Name! But in anticipation of the completion of the work the Father had given Him to do He said, "Glorify me... with the glory which I had along with thee before the world was", John 17: 5. That was the glory belonging to deity. Let us hold firmly the truth of His deity, and so lift up our hearts in worship to Him!

W.E.Ellis