Biblical Statements of Jesus’ Deity – John 10:25-33

 What do you think is my purpose in these lessons? (Arguments for the “defense” of Christianity.) What is the general description for this group of lessons? (Apologetics.) What is “Apologetics”? (And explanation or “defense” of the Christian faith.)

If someone is skeptical of the truth about Christ and Christianity, is he going to readily receive the testimony of the Bible? If someone professes to be a “Christian” but has problems with or is ignorant of the deity of Christ, is there a likelihood that he will listen to the testimony of the Bible? Even though the material in this particular lesson will not be received by the total skeptic, it may still be important in answering the unbelief of many people.

Last week we looked at the testimony made to Jesus’ deity through His trial, now we moved on.

Jesus’ own statements.John 10:25-33. What did the Jews think that Jesus meant by what He said here? (Claimed deity.) The word “one” (“I and my Father are one”) is neuter in Greek, not masculine, and refers to their unity in essence or nature, not person. The Father and the Son are one in their deity, but remain two distinct Persons within the Godhead. If the man from Nazareth had clearly said, “God, the Father, and I are the same person” which would it be more: a statement of insanity or blasphemy? If he said, “God and I share the same deity” would it be considered more insanity or blasphemy? Notice that this isn’t the first time that the Jews tried to stone Him.

John 5:8-18. How often do you suppose that the Jews broke their rules about the Sabbath? Were the Jews upset that Jesus had broken the Sabbath? Was that the reason that they sought to kill Him? Did Jesus refer to “our Father” or “my Father”? When I say that “my father was a cartographer,” are you to assume that your father is a cartographer? When I refer to MY father am I talking about YOUR father? Jesus’ reference to God as His Father was assumed to be what? (A declaration of deity.)

John 8:51-59. What is the meaning of the words “verily, verily?” (This is a kind of oath, doubled.) If you were insane and wanted to say that you were alive when Abraham was alive, how would you say it? If you wanted to say that you are STILL alive when Abraham was alive, how would you say it? When Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM” was he saying that he was alive at the time of Abraham? What is the Tetragramaton? (Yhwh, Yahweh or Jehovah.) As far as we can determine, what is the meaning of name Yahweh? (I am.) When Jesus referred to “I am” in John 8 the Jews understood him to be claiming to be Jehovah.

Jesus’ implications and demands.John 5:19-27. Part of what Jesus says here is that by hurling abuse at Him, His enemies were attacking God. He says that God is not pleased with that kind of behaviour. What direction does He say that our worship should go?

John 8:12-20. Jesus claimed that to know Him is to know _____________________. If my father walked into this room would anyone recognize Him?

John 14:1. What is it called to put one’s trust in something the same way that we are to trust the Lord? How foolish would it be if I told you that after my death, I would go to prepare you a place in Heaven? How foolish would it be for you to believe me?

John 14:8-11.

Matthew 5:20, 22, 26, etc. How important are the words “thus saith the Lord”? How does Jesus think that His words “I say unto you” relate to “thus saith the Lord”?

Jesus’ worship.

Matthew 8:2; John 9:35-39. Were these actions nothing more than respect for an important man?

John 20:27-29. What did the disciples mean by these words?

How did the disciples react when people mistakenly “worshiped” them (Acts 10:25-26)? How strongly did the Jews feel against idol worship or the worship of men? Were the disciples so ignorant or evil that they wouldn’t have thought about worshipping Jesus?

Paul’s testimony.Romans 9:1-5.

Philippians 2:6-11. Verses 6-8 describe Christ as having two natures: divine and human (the Servant). Verses 9-11 equate Jesus with the Lord – Jehovah.

Colossians 1:15-17. Would you say that I am a good illustration or image of God? Jesus casts a good image of the Father, because He is one with Him in their deity. Did the miraculous works of Christ in any way hinder His image of God? The term “firstborn” over all creation means that as the eternal Son, He is the heir of all things.

Colossians 2:9.

Titus 2:13.

Other Biblical statements about Jesus’ deity.Luke 3:22.

Matthew 16:15-17. Did the Lord ever overlook ignorant or sinful statements? Why didn’t the Lord rebuke Peter for this over-the-top statement about Jesus?

Acts 2:36.

II Peter. 1:1.

Hebrews 1:3, 8.

John 1:1, 14. How can the “logos” be both separated from God and identified as God at the same time?

I John 5:20.

Jesus’ deeds.He forgave sin – Mark 2:5-7. In Catholicism does a Roman Catholic priest have the authority to forgive sin? In the Jewish religion does or did the priest have authority to forgive sin? Why did Jesus claim the authority to forgive sin?

John 14:6. Did Jesus say that He knew the way to life?

I John 5:11-12.

Old Testament and New Testament verses in parallel.

Isaiah 40:28 – John 1:3

Isaiah 45:22; 43:11 – John 4:42

I Samuel 2:6 – John 5:21

Joel 3:12 – John 5:27 (Matthew 25:31-46)

Isaiah 60:19-20 – John 8:12

Exodus 3:14 – John 5:58

Psalm 23:1 – John 10:11

Isaiah 42:8 (48:11) – John 17:1, 5

Isaiah 41:4; 44:6 – Revelation 1:17; 2:8

Hosea 13:14 – Revelation 5:9

Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:16 – Revelation 21:2 (Matthew 25:1)

Psalm 18:2 – I Corinthians 10:4

Jeremiah 31:34 – Mark 2:7, 10

Psalm 148:2 – Hebrews 1:6

The entire Old Testament – Acts 7:59

Psalm 148:5 – Colossians 1:16

Isaiah 45:23 – Philippians 2:11

Is Jesus Christ God?