LECTURE XVIII

LECTURE XVIII.

DIVINITY OF CHRIST

FIRST. Show what is intended by the Divinity of Christ.

SECOND. Show that Christ is truly Divine or that he is the true God.

THIRD. Answer objections.

First. What is intended by the Divinity of Christ.

1. By the Divinity of Christ is not intended that he is a divine being in the sense in which angels are divine beings.

2. Nor in the sense in which super angelic creatures might be divine.

3. Nor that he is God in any subordinate sense of the term.

4. That he is properly and absolutely God.

Second. Show that Christ is truly divine.

The proof of the divinity of Christ is to be gathered of course from the Bible. In establishing it, I shall pursue very much the course that has been pursued by Pres. Dwight.

I. I adduce those texts in which the proper names of God are ascribed to Christ.

1. He is called God.

Gen. 32:30: "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." Compared with---

Ex. 33:20: "And he said thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me, and live." And---

John 1:18: "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, hath declared him." And---

John 6:46: "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father."

Isa. 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name IMMANUEL ." Compared with---

Matt. 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." And---

John 1:1: "In the beginning was the WORD , and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God ." And---

Rom. 9:5: "Whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen." And---

1 Tim. 3:16: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory."

Titus 1:3: "But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me, according to the commandment of God our Savior."

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."

Heb. 3:4: "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." Compared with---

John 1:3, 10: "All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not anything made that was not made."

2. He is called the true God.

1 John 5:20: "And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is TRUE; and we are in him that is TRUE, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the TRUE God, and eternal life."

3. He is called the mighty God.

Isa. 9:6: "For unto us a child is born, unto a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The MIGHTY God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

4. He is called the Lord God Almighty.

Rev. 15:3: "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."

5. He is called the Almighty.

Rev. 1:8: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the ALMIGHTY .

6. He is called the only wise God.

Jude 25: "To the ONLY WISE God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."

7. He is called the great God.

Titus 2:13: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the GREAT GOD and our Savior Jesus Christ."

8. He is called the God of Israel.

Ex. 24:9, 10: "Then went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and they saw the GOD OF ISRAEL: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire-stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness." Compared with---

Ex. 33:20: "And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." And---

John 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." And---

John 6:46: "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father."

9. He is called Jehovah in several instances, in the 12th chapter of Zechariah.

Isa. 6:1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12: "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting 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." "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me." "Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitants, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land." Compared with---

John 12:40, 41: "He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him."

10. He is called Jehovah of Hosts.

Isa. 6:3, 5: "And one cried unto another, and said Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts ; the whole earth is full of his glory." "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts ."

In the original this is Jehovah of Hosts.

II. The natural attributes of God are ascribed to Christ.

1. Eternity.

Rev. 1:10,11: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and OMEGA , the first and the LAST; and what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."

Rev. 2:8: "And unto the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things saith the FIRST and the LAST , which was dead, and is alive."

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 besides me there is no God."

2. Omniscience.

John 21:17: "He said unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he 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."

Matt. 11:27: "ALL THINGS are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."

Rev. 2:23: "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."

That searching the heart implies omniscience is manifest.

1 Kings 8:39: "Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give unto every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; for thou, even thou only knowest the hearts of all the children of men."

John 2:23,24: "Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast-day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men."

3. Omnipresence.

Matt. 18:20. 'For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'

Matt. 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.'

4. Omnipotence.

Rev. 1:8. 'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.'

Heb. 1:2. 'Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.'

John 1:3. 'All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.'

5. Immutability.

Heb. 13:8. 'Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.'

Ps. 102:27. 'But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end." Compared with---

Heb. 1:10, 'And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.'

III. The works of God are ascribed to Christ.

1. Creation.

John 1:3,10. 'All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.'

Ps. 33:6. 'By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth."

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.'

Eph. 3:9. 'And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.'

Heb. 1:2. 'Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.'

Heb. 4:11. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

2. He governs the universe.

Isa. 6:5. 'Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the KING , the Lord of Hosts.'

Here he is called the King of the universe.

Isa. 9:6,7. '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, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.'

Dan. 7:13,14. 'I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages, should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.'

Acts. 10:36. "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel preaching peace by Jesus Christ; he is Lord of all.'

Ps. 45:6. 'Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.'

Rom. 9:5. 'Whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.'

1 Cor. 15:25. 'For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.'

Eph. 1:20. 'Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.'

Philippians 2:9--11. 'Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.'

The whole of the 2d and 72nd Psalm represent Christ as the governor of the world.'

3. He raised the dead.

John 5:28, 29. 'Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

John 10:17,18. 'Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.'

John 6:39, 40, 44, 54, '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 again 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.' 'And this is the will of him that hath sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.' 'Whose eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.'

4. He forgives sins.

Matt. 9:2-7. 'And, behold they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed; and Jesus, seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be FORGIVEN thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to FORGIVE sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house.'

5. He gives eternal life to men.

John 10:27, 28. 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them ETERNAL LIFE; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.'

Rev. 21:6. 'And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.'

Rev. 2:7, 17, 28. 'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.' 'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.' 'And I will give him the morning star.'

6. He shall judge the world.

Acts 17:31. 'Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will JUDGE the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.'

John 5:22. 'For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all JUDGMENT unto the Son.

Also, Matt. 2:5.

7. He upholds all things.

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.'

8. He inspired the prophets.

1 Pet. 1:11. 'Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them, did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.'

9. He commissions ambassadors.

2 Cor. 5:20. 'Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's, stead be ye reconciled to God."

IV. He sustains the relations of God to his creatures.

1. He is King.

John 1:49. 'Nathaniel answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the KING of Israel.'

Isa. 6:5. 'Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for I have seen the KING , the Lord of Hosts.'

Ps. 2:6. 'Yet have I set my KING upon my holy hill of Zion.'

Luke 23:2. 'And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a KING.'

John 18:37. 'Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a KING then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a KING . To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.'

1 Tim. 1:17. 'Now unto the KING eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.'

1 Tim. 6:15. 'Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the KING of kings, and Lord of lords.'

2. He is the Creator of mankind.

John 1:2. 'All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.'

3. He is the Redeemer.

1 Cor. 1:30. 'But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and REDEMPTION.

Eph. 1:7. 'In whom we have REDEMPTION through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.'

Heb. 9:12. 'Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal REDEMPTION for us.'

Revelation 5:9. 'And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast REDEEMED US to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and nation.'

4. He is the Sanctifier of mankind.

1 Corinthians 1:30. (As quoted above.)

5. He is the Judge of mankind.

Acts 10:42. 'And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God, to be the JUDGE of quick and dead.'

Rom. 2:16. 'In the day when God shall JUDGE the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.'

Acts 14:10. 'But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the JUDGMENT- SEAT of Christ.

To the above I will add several other proofs.

1. The fullness of the God-head is ascribed to him.

Col. 2:9. 'For in him dwelleth all the FULLNESS of the Godhead bodily.'

All the divine perfections are in him.

2. He is the express image of God.

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.'

3. He thought it not it robbery to be equal with God.

Phil. 2:6. 'Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.'

4. He is the image of the invisible God.

1 Cor. 11:7. 'For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the IMAGE and glory of God.'

2 Cor. 4:4. 'In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the IMAGE of God, should shine unto them.'

Col. 1:15. 'Who is the IMAGE of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.'

5. He is the Jehovah which Moses saw in the burning bush.

Ex. 3:2-6. 'And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.' Compared with---

Ex. 33:20. 'And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me, and live.' And---

John 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.' And---

John 6:46. 'Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.'

6. He claimed, and received divine honors.

John 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.'

Matt. 2:11. 'And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and WORSHIPPED him.

Matt. 8:2. 'And, behold, there came a leper, and WORSHIPPED him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.'

Matt. 14:13. 'When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart; and when the people had heard thereof, they followed on foot out of the cities.'

7. He is worshipped in heaven.

Rev. 5:12, 14. 'Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.' 'And the four beasts said, Amen, And the four and twenty elders fell down and WORSHIPPED him that liveth forever and ever.'

Isa. 6:1-5. 'In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high, and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim; each one had six wings; with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.'

8. The Father commanded angels to worship him.

Heb. 1:6. 'And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God WORSHIP him.'

9. He was understood by the Jews to assert his own absolute divinity.

10. He wrought miracles in his own name, and by his own power.

11. He claimed power to raise himself from the dead.

John 10:18. 'No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. 'This commandment have I received of my Father.'

12. If not God, he was an impostor, and a blasphemer; and according to the Jewish law, was justly put to death.'

13. If not God, he has made no Atonement, but only suffered as a martyr.

14. Set aside the doctrine of Christ's divinity, and you destroy the moral power of the gospel.

15. If not God, the Christian Church are, and always have been idolaters.

16. It is incredible that the Church should have been so greatly blessed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the very act of worshipping Christ as God, unless he is the true God.

17. Those Churches who deny the divinity of Christ are not blessed with the effusions of the Holy Spirit as are those Churches that maintain his divinity, and worship him as God.

18. If Christ is not God, God the Father has deceived us by giving Christ the power to work miracles in confirmation of his assertion that he is God.

19. If he is not God, the Prophets and Apostles have been deceived, and have led the Church into idolatry.

20. It is a fact which cannot be denied that the Churches planted by the Apostles held the proper divinity of Christ.

21. If he is not God, it does not appears that there is any God revealed in the Bible.

22. If he is not God, the Bible is the most blasphemous book in the world.

23. If Christ is not God, it is truly unaccountable that the Bible should speak of him in a manner so entirely different from that in which it speaks of any created being.

24. Christians are led by the Holy Spirit to commune with Christ as God.

25. The saints naturally pray to him as God.

Acts 9:13,14. 'Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.'

26. If Christ is not God, we have no means of being undeceived. As the Bible stands, we are bound to receive the doctrine of his divinity.

27. If he is not God, the more diligent, honest, and studious we are in biblical research, the more certain are we to be deceived.

28. If not God, none have held the truth upon this subject, but the mutilators of the Bible, and those who have held very loose notions of its divine inspiration and authority.

29. Those who have rejected the divinity of Christ have exhibited the loosest morality that has been seen in the Christian world.

30. If this doctrine is not true, then the preaching and belief of this heresy have occasioned a purer morality, and have exerted altogether a better influence than has ever resulted from preaching the truth, or from a denial of this doctrine.

31. But this is impossible. Falsehood cannot promote a pure morality. If a belief in the divinity of Christ naturally results in the purest and the most perfect virtue, it must be true.

Third. Answer objections.

Obj. I. To the proper divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is objected that he often and in many ways acknowledged his inferiority to, and dependence upon God. He prayed to God, and affirmed that God was greater than he.

Ans. 1. It has been common for those who deny the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, to quote that class of passages that prove his humanity, dependence, and inferiority to the Father, and there stop, taking it for granted that they have proved that he is not God.

2. This is unfair and absurd, for it is admitted and maintained by Trinitarians, as well as by themselves, that he was a man, and as such, dependent on and inferior to his Father. But it is also maintained that he is likewise God, independent, omnipotent, and eternal.

3. There is, to say the least, as large a class of scriptures to prove his divinity as his humanity. They seem as explicit, full, and unequivocal as could be expressed in words.

4. To get rid of the mystery of the union of two natures in one person, some explain away his humanity, and others his divinity. The same rule of criticism, resorted to in the one case, is equally effectual and conclusive in the other. And were the application made, it would be equally efficient in destroying the testimony of both these classes of passages, and rendering it uncertain whether he was either God, or man, or anything else.

5. As Mediator, Christ was both inferior to, and dependent upon the Father.

Obj. II. It is objected that the union of the divine and human natures is utterly inconceivable.

Ans. It is true that we can have no conception of the quo modo of this union. Nor can we have any conception of the manner in which our soul and body are united. In the one case we can believe the fact on the testimony of God, and in the other, on the testimony of our own consciousness.

Obj. III. It is objected that the union of the divine and human natures should not be made an article of faith, because it cannot possibly be believed, inasmuch as it cannot be understood.

Ans. The thing to be believed can be understood. We are not called upon to believe anything about the mode or manner of the union. It is not a question of philosophy, but of fact, that we are called upon to believe. The fact we can understand and believe.