CIM Briefing Papers

C.I.M. Outline #9

                       THE DEITY OF CHRIST


I.   Introduction

     The doctrine of the deity of Christ is a fundamental of the
     faith.  Almost all (even critics of Christianity) agree He
     was a unique person.

II.  If Jesus were God, what would we expect Him to be like?

     A.   He would have a unique birth.

     B.   We would expect His words to have great impact.

     C.   We would expect Him to have moral perfection.

     D.   We would expect Him to perform miracles.

     E.   We would expect His influence to be lasting and
          universal.

     F.   We would expect Him to have power over death.

III.  The Evidence for the Deity of Christ

      A.   The fulfillment of Prophecy.

           1.   On Good Friday 33 prophecies were fulfilled.
           2.   Psalm 22 contains 57 parallels to Christ's
                crucifixion.
           3.   There are around 300 prophecies fulfilled by
                Christ at His first coming.  If only 48 of these
                were fulfilled by the same person, it would be a
                probability of 1 out of 1 followed by 181 zeros.

      B.   He had the attributes of deity.

           1.   Omnipotence (Matt. 28:18).
           2.   Omniscience (John 1:48).
           3.   Omnipresence (Matt. 28:20).
           4.   Truth (John 14:6).
           5.   Immutability (Heb. 13:8).

      C.   He is seen as an equal with the Father and the
           Spirit.

           1.   With the Father (John 10:30 14;16).
           2.   With the Father and the Spirit (Matt. 28:19; II
                Cor. 13:14).  The Greek construction makes it an
                even stronger case.

      D.   He performed the works of God.

           1.   He creates (John 1:3).
           2.   He sustains the universe (Col. 1:17).
           3.   He forgives sin (Luke 7:48).
           4.   He raises the dead (John 5:25; 11).
           5.   He judges (John 5:27).
           6.   He sends the Holy Spirit (John 15:26)

      E.   He Himself claimed to be God.

           1.   At His trial (Mark 14:61-62; Luke 22:70).
           2.   He claimed equality with the Father (John
                5:17,18,23,24; 8:19,58; 10:30-33; 14:9).
                  
           3.   He asked for and received worship.
                a.   The Leper (Matt. 8:2).
                b.   The man born blind (John 9:35-39).
                c.   The disciples (Matt. 14:33).
                d.   Thomas (John 20:27-29).
           4.   Conclusion:  What are the alternatives?
                a.   That He was not an historical figure is
                     contrary to evidence.
                b.   That He was just a good, moral man will not
                     hold water because of His claims and
                     teachings.  Example: He lied many times if
                     He was not who He said He was.
                c.   C. S. Lewis says there are only three
                     alternatives:
                       "I am trying here to prevent anyone
                       saying the really foolish thing that
                       people often say about Him: `I'm ready to
                       accept Jesus as a great moral teacher,
                       but I don't accept His claim to be God.'
                       That is the one thing we must not say.  A
                       man who was merely a man and said the
                       sort of things Jesus said would not be a
                       great moral teacher.  He would rather be
                       a lunatic --on a level with a man who
                       says He is a poached egg--or else He
                       would be the devil of men.  You must make
                       your choice.  Either this man was, and
                       is, the son of God: or else a madman or
                       something worse."  (From MERE
                       CHRISTIANITY, pp. 40-41)

                       Jesus was either a Liar, a Lunatic, or
                       Lord of all.

      F.   His unparalleled impact on human history.

      G.   His resurrection from the dead.  (See C.I.M. outline
           #1)
 
 
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