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TOPIC: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (About Jesus Christ) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 01 The Deity of Jesus Christ
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Ch 01 The Deity of Jesus Christ
I. DIVINE NAMES OF JESUS.
Luk_22:70 — "Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am."
The Son of God: This name is given to Christ forty times. Besides this the synonymous expressions, "His Son" and "My Son" occur frequently. That this name used for Christ is a distinctly divine name comes from Joh_5:18- ''Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making himself equal with God."
Joh_1:18 — "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." The Only Begotten Son: This name occurs five times. It is evident that the statement Jesus Christ is the Son of God only in the same sense that all men are sons of God is not true. Compare to Mar_12:6 — "Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son."
Here Jesus Himself, having spoken of all the prophets as servants of God, speaks of Himself as "one," a beloved "Son." Rev_1:17 — "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last."
The First and the Last: Compare to Isa_41:4 "Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LOAD, the first, and with the last; I am he" and to Isa_44:6 — "Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." In these latter passages it is "Jehovah of hosts" who is "the first and the last."
Rev_22:12-13; Rev_22:16 — "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
The Alpha and Omega:
the Beginning and the Ending: Rev_1:8 RV — "I am the Alpha and the Omega saith the Lord God, which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty." Here it is Jesus Christ, referred to as the Lord God, who is the Alpha and Omega.
Act_3:14 — "But he denied the Holy One and the just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you."
The Holy One: In Hos_11:9 ("I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city") and many other passages; it is God who is "the Holy One." Since the disciples referred to Jesus as the Holy One, they equated him with God.
Mal_3:1 — "Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold he shall come, saith the LORD of Hosts."
Luk_2:11 — "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
Act_9:17 — "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." (Compare with Joh_20:28; Heb_1:10.) The Lord: This name or title is used for Jesus several hundred times. The word translated "Lord" is used in the New Testament in speaking of men nine times (e.g., Act_16:30; Eph_4:1; Joh_12:21), but not at all in the way it is used of Christ. He is spoken of as "the Lord" just as God is. See, for example, Act_4:26 — -"The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ" and 4:33 — "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was given them all." Note also Mat_22:43-45 — "He saith unto them, How, then, doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. If David called him Lord, how is he his son?" Php_2:11 — "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" and Eph_4:5 — "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
Act_10:36 — "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)."
Lord of All.
1Co_2:8 — "Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
Psa_24:8-10 — "Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the Load mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates: even lift them up, ye everlasting doors: and the king of glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of Glory." The Lord of Glory and the King of Glory.
Isa_9:6 — "And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Wonderful, Mighty God: Since Isa_9:6 is widely understood to predict the coming of the Messiah, we can take these as names of Jesus. Compare to Jdg_13:18, RV — "And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore askest thou after my name, seeing it is wonderful?"
Heb_1:8 — "But unto the son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom."
God: In Joh_20:28 — "And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God." Thomas calls Jesus "my God," and is gently rebuked for not believing it before.
Mat_1:23 — "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
God with us.
Tit_2:13 RV — "Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
Our Great God.
Rom_9:5 — "Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen." God Blessed Forever.
Proposition: Sixteen names clearly implying deity are used for Christ in the Bible, some of them over and over again, the total number of passages reaching far into the hundreds.
II. DIVINE ATTRIBUTES OF JESUS.
OMNIPOTENT
Luk_4:39 — "And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever: and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them." Jesus has power over disease; it is subject to his word.
Luk_7:14-15 — "And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother."
Luk_8:54; Luk_8:55 — "And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat."
Joh_5:25 — "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." The Son of God has power over death; it is subject to His word.
Mat_8:26; Mat_8:27 — "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" Jesus has power over the winds and sea; they are subject to His word.
Mat_8:16 — -"When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick."
Luk_4:35-36; Luk_4:41 — "And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them, suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ." Jesus has power over demons; they are subject to His word.
Eph_1:20-23 — "which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Christ is far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come; all things are subject to him.
All the hierarchies of the angelic world are under Him.
(f) Heb_1:3 — "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the
express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high." Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power.
First Proposition: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is omnipotent.
OMNISCIENT
Joh_4:16-19 — "Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband; in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet."
Jesus knows people's lives, even their secret history.
Mar_2:8 — "And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?"
Luk_5:22 — "But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?"
Joh_2:24-25 — "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men. And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." (See also Act_1:24.) Jesus knows the secret thoughts of people; He knows all people; He knows what is in every man and woman.
We are told in 2Ch_6:30 ("Then hear thou from heaven, thy
dwelling-place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways whose heart thou knowest (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men) and Jer_17:9-10 ("The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I, the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings") that God "only knoweth the hearts of the children of men."
Joh_6:64 — -"But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him."
Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him. Not only men's present thoughts but their future choices were known by Him.
Joh_1:48 — "Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." Jesus knew what men were doing at a distance.
Luk_22:10-12 — "And he said unto them, Behold when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good man of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples? and he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready."
Joh_13:1 — "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."
Luk_5:4-6 — "Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake." Jesus knows the future regarding not only God's acts, but the specific acts of men and even the fishes of the sea.
Note. Many, if not all, of these items of knowledge up to this point could, if they stood alone, be accounted for by saying that the Omniscient God revealed these specific things to Jesus.
Joh_21:17 — "Peter was grieved because [Jesus] said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto Him, Lord, thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
Joh_16:30 — "Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God."
Col_2:3 — "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Jesus knows all things; in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ is omniscient.
Note. There was, as we will see when we discuss the humanity of Christ, a voluntary veiling and abnegation of the exercise of His inherent divine omniscience. (Compare Mar_11:12-14 with Php_2:7.)
OMNIPRESENCE
Mat_18:20 — "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Jesus is present in every place where two or three gather together in His name.
Mat_28:20 — "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Jesus Christ is present with every one who goes forth into any part of the world to make disciples.
Joh_3:13 — "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man which is in heaven." Jesus was in heaven while He was here on earth.
Note. The reading here is debatable. It is found in this way in the Alexandrian manuscript., and almost all other versions. The closing words are omitted in the Sinaitic and other important manuscripts. It is accepted by most of the best editors (e.g., Tischendorf and Tregelles), but is rejected by Westcott and Hort.
Joh_14:20 — "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."
2Co_13:5 — "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
Jesus Christ is in each believer.
Eph_1:23 — "Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
Jesus Christ filleth all in all.
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ is Omnipresent.
ETERNITY
Joh_1:1 — "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Mic_5:2 — "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
Col_1:17 — "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
Isa_9:6 — "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Joh_17:5 — "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (See Joh_6:62.)
Joh_8:58 — "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
1Jn_1:1 — "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life."
Heb_13:8 — "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and
forever."
Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ is from all eternity.
IMMUTABILITY
Heb_13:8 — "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and
forever."
Heb_1:12 — "And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail." Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ is unchangeable. He not only always is but always is the same.
Php_2:6 — "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God."
Sixth Proposition: Jesus Christ before His incarnation was in the form of God.
Note. The Greek word translated "form" means "the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision; the external appearance" (Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament).
Col_2:9 — "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily."
Seventh Proposition: In Jesus Christ dwells all the fulness of the God- head in a bodily way.
Concluding Proposition: Five or more distinctively divine attributes are ascribed to Jesus Christ and all the fullness of the God-head is said to dwell in Him.
III. DIVINE OFFICES OF JESUS.
CREATION
Heb_1:10 — "And thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thy hands."
Joh_1:3 — "All things were made by him; and without him was not
anything made that was made."
Col_1:16 — -"For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ, the Lord, is Creator of all created things.
PRESERVATION
Heb_1:3 — "Who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ is the Preserver of all things.
THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN
Mar_2:5-10 — "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of
the palsy, Son thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? and immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy)."
Luk_7:48 — "And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ had power on earth to forgive sins.
Note. He taught that sins were sins against Himself. (See Luk_7:40-47 — "And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned unto the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore, I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.") He speaks both of Simon and the woman as sinners, being debtors to himself. (Compare to Psa_51:4 — "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.")
RAISING OF THE DEAD
Joh_6:39; Joh_6:44 — -"And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
Fourth Proposition: It is Jesus Christ who raises the dead.
QUESTION: Did not Elijah and Elisha raise the dead? No. God raised the dead in answer to their prayer, but Jesus Christ raises the dead by his own word. During his humiliation it was by prayer that Christ raised the dead. (See Joh_11:41 — "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.")
TRANSFORMATION OF BODIES
Php_3:21 RV — "Who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able to subject all things unto himself."
Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation into the likeness of His glorious body.
JUDGMENT
2Ti_4:1 RV — "I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom."
Sixth Proposition: Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead.
Note. Jesus Himself emphasized the divine character of this office. Joh_5:22-23 — "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him."
THE BESTOWAL OF ETERNAL LIFE
Joh_10:28 — "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
Joh_17:2 — "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him." Seventh Proposition: Jesus Christ is the giver of eternal life.
Concluding Proposition: Seven distinctly divine offices are predicated of Jesus Christ.
IV. STATEMENTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT ARE MADE DISTINCTLY OF JEHOVAH, GOD, TAKEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TO REFER TO JESUS CHRIST.
Psa_102:24-27 — "I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yes, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end."
In Heb_1:10-12 the following statement is interpreted as referring to Jesus Christ: "And thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thy hands. They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment. And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years
shall not fail".
Isa_40:3; Isa_40:4 "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD (Jehovah), make straight in the desert the highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain."
In Mat_3:3 and Luk_1:68-69; Luk_1:76, Jesus is the Lord before whose face the messenger goes: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people. And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. And thou, child shall be called the prophet of the highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways."
Jer_11:20 — "But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause."
Jer_17:10 — "I, the LORD, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."
In Rev_2:23, it is Jesus who does what is distinctly said of Jehovah in the Old Testament passage: "And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works."
Isa_60:19 — "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." (See also Zechariah 2:5.)
This is said of Jesus in Luk_2:32 — "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
Isa_6:1; Isa_6:3; Isa_6:10 — "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sit-ring upon a throne high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. And one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert and be healed." (Compare to
Joh_12:37-41 — "But though he had done so many miracles before
them, yet they believed not on him. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias when he saw his glory, and spake of him.") In the Old Testament passage it was when he saw the glory of Jehovah of hosts that Isaiah spoke these things, but in the New Testament John says it was when Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus Christ that he said this. The inference is simple.
Isaiah 8;13-14 "Sanctify the Load of hosts himself: and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." (Compare to 1Pe_2:7-8 — "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the comer, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.") In the Old Testament Jehovah is the stone of stumbling, etc. In the New Testament it is Jesus Christ.
Isa_8:12-13 — "Say ye not, a confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, a confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread." (Compare to 1Pe_3:14 "But and if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear neither be troubled; but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear.")
Num_21:6-7 — "And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us, and Moses prayed for the people." (Compare to 1Co_10:9 — "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of
serpents.")
Psa_23:1 — "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Isa_40:10-11 — "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." (Compare to Joh_10:11 — "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.") In the Old Testament Jehovah is the good shepherd; in the New Testament Jesus is the good shepherd.
Eze_34:11-12; Eze_34:18 — "For thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture?
and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?"
Compare to Luk_19:10 — "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." In the Old Testament Jehovah "seeks and saves the lost," in the New Testament Jesus "seeks and saves the lost." Lord in the Old Testament always refers to God except where the context clearly indicates otherwise: Lord in the New Testament always refers to Jesus Christ except where the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Proposition: Many statements which in the Old Testament are made distinctly of Jehovah, God, are taken in the New Testament to refer to Jesus Christ; i.e., in New Testament thought and doctrine Jesus Christ occupies the place that Jehovah occupies in Old Testament thought and doctrine.
V. THE WAY THE NAMES GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS CHRIST THE SON ARE COUPLED TOGETHER.
2Co_13:14 — "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."
Mat_28:19 — "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
1Th_3:11 — "Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you."
1Co_12:4-6 — -"Now there are diversities of gifts, but of the same spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God, which worketh all in all."
Tit_3:4-5 — "But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Compare to Tit_2:13 — "Looking for the blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.")
Rom_1:7 — "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (There are many instances of this sort in all the Pauline epistles.)
Jas_1:1 — "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting."
Joh_14:23 — "Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
"We," God and I.
2Pe_1:1 — "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ." (Compare this with the RV.)
Col_2:2 — "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit
together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ." (See RV.)
Joh_17:3 — "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Joh_14:1 — "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." (Compare to Jer_17:5-7 — "Thus saith the LORD; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.")
Rev_7:10 — "And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."
Rev_5:13 — "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." (Compare this with Joh_5:23 — "That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent
him.")
Proposition: The name Jesus Christ is coupled with God the Father in numerous passages in a way that it would be impossible to couple the name of any finite being with that of the Deity.
VI. DIVINE WORSHIP TO BE GIVEN TO JESUS CHRIST.