God

The Gallup Pole released recently taken in 2020 shows that for the first time in American history less than 50 percent of households, 47 percent, are no longer associating with any religious “church.”

Considering from 1937 to 1990 it was above 70 percent we can see the decline America has taken. 1

This reason alone is why we must not only know Jesus is God but know how to prove such.

Historicity Of Jesus.

We could easily go through and show within the scriptures where Jesus is specifically called God and have done so on numerous occasions.

Such as the apostle of love’s recognition of such in John 1:1 or Thomas’ response to seeing Jesus, “My Lord and my God” in John 20:28.

We could go on and on, but for this evening I wanted to go to some lesser known passages wherein we find Jesus proving himself to be God in two different fronts.

As you and I know it is one thing for a human being to claim to be divine, as many have done so throughout time.

It is very different to prove such, which is why Jesus stands out amongst those that have claimed such in the past and even today.

How did Jesus prove he was divine, first let’s look at John 3:1-15 wherein Nicodemus and Jesus meet.

Nicodemus had seen the “signs” or “miracles” Jesus had performed and rightly concluded he must be from God (John 3:2).

After announcing his deity by authoritatively articulating the only way to enter the kingdom of God, Jesus made this statement in John 3:13-15.

John 3:13–15 ESV

13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

In this Jesus affirms his identity in four ways.

First by stating he came from heaven.

Second by stating he was an eternal resident of heaven.

Third by stating he is the source of spiritual healing like the serpent was in Moses’ time.

Fourth by stating he is who salvation goes through.

Within this however, we find Jesus call himself the “Son of Man” twice.

Of the 86 times the phrase “son of man” is found in the ESV all except four are found in the gospel accounts.

Stephen, when being murdered, said he saw the “Son of Man” at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56).

The Hebrew writer quotes from Psalm 8 in Hebrews 2:6 which is about Jesus as well.

The last two times are in the book of Revelation.

I say all that to say this, every time it’s used (86 times) it refers to Jesus.

Not only that but Jesus refers to himself as “son of man” 50 times, the most of any other title or name.

Why is this significant?

By doing this Jesus wanted to make it clear “God” became flesh and came to earth.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

There is also significance in the the name “son of man” in the only instance it is found in Daniel 7:13-14.

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

One would be hard pressed not to see the similarities between Daniel’s prophecy and Luke’s description of Jesus’ ascension in Acts 1:9-11.

Daniel’s account given from the perspective of heaven and Luke’s from the perspective of earth.

This is important because Jesus would ascend into heave wherein he would “sit at the right hand of God.”

Thus Jesus’ use of calling himself “Son of Man” and linking that to eternity while also tying it phrases such as “Son of God” was Jesus demonstrating himself to be both divine and human.

Another significant passage is found John 5:18-26 wherein Jesus calls himself the “Son of God.”

The phrase “son of God” is found four ways in scripture.

It can refer to human beings created by God (Luke 3:38).

It can refer to God’s righteous people (Genesis 6:2; Romans 9:26).

It can refer to angels (Job 1:6).

Lastly, it can refer to Jesus (John 5:25; Romans 1:4).

In our text the Jews are angry because Jesus healed a man was an invalid for 38 years.

Rather than being like Nicodemus the Jews complained he performed this miracle on the Sabbath.

When Jesus accurately demonstrated how they were misguided in their outrage it only made them more angry to the point “verse 18” wherein they wanted to kill him for healing a man on the Sabbath and associating himself with God has his son.

Jesus responds to their anger by defending his deity by describing the intimate connection between himself and the Father in seven different ways.

First, by showing how he and the Father are one in action because Jesus does everything the Father tells him to do.

John 5:19 ESV

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

John 5:30 ESV

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Second, Jesus describes this intimate connection by showing how he and the Father are one in love and intent because the Father sent the son to die for the souls of mankind and Jesus gave himself for the lost souls of humanity.

John 5:20 ESV

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Third, Jesus describes this intimate connection by showing how he and the Father are one in giving spiritual life to those that desire it.

John 5:21 ESV

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

John 6:58 ESV

58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Fourth, Jesus describes this intimate connection by showing he and the Father are one in judgment.

John 5:22 ESV

22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

John 12:48 ESV

48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

Fifth, Jesus describes the intimate connection between himself and the Father by showing how he and the Father are one in the honor due them.

John 5:23 ESV

23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

John 8:49 ESV

49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

Sixth, Jesus describes, to these unfaithful Jews, the intimate connection by showing how he and the Father are one in the prerequisites of salvation.

John 5:24 ESV

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

1 John 5:9–10 ESV

9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

Seventh, Jesus describes this intimate connection by showing how he and the Father are one in their possession of life. The Father and Son share life that is eternal and only they “God” can impart life to others whether physical or spiritual.

John 5:25–26 ESV

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

John 6:66–69 ESV

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Summary

When Jesus spoke of himself as the “Son,” and declared the intimate connection between himself and the Father, Jesus was clearly implying he is GOD!

That he, Jesus, is equal in nature to the Father.

The amazing reality about Jesus being God, however, is that this can be proven from a historical means as well.

Let’s examine now how…

Jesus Is God Historically

Non-Christian Historians.

Tacitus lived around 56-117 A.D. and wrote a book titled “Annals” around 115 A.D. that was a history of Rome during his time.

In section 15.44 he wrote…

“…Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome...”

Notice that…

Christianity existed during Nero’s reign.

Christ was it’s creator.

Jesus was killed during Tiberius reign and by Pontius Pilate.

Christianity spread through Judea and even to Rome.

Seutonius is said to have relied upon eyewitness for his historical account.

In his “Life of Claudius” (25.4) he writes…

“Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from Rome.”

So we see Chrestus i.e., Christ, is the cause for the disturbance which Luke records in Acts 18:2.

The Sanhedrin Tractate, a section of the Talmud that deals with civil and criminal damages, says…

“On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, 'He is going forth to be stoned because he has practised sorcery and enticed Israel to apostacy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.' But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!”

In John 11:8 the disciples worried about Jesus being “stoned” asked him why he would head back to Judea even if it was to see Mary and Martha at the loss of Lazarus.

All of this is to point out not that these prove Jesus was God but that Jesus was indeed a historical person who could not be denied, by even his enemies, that he did miraculous things and that his people deem him God worthy of even dying for.

God Fearing Historians.

Clement of Alexandria lived around 150 to 215 A.D. and wrote a letter to the church in Corinth.

In Chapter 16 we read…

“For Christ is of those who are humble- minded, and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Scepter of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him.”

Biblical Historians.

The Bible itself is a historical book itself.

Every book tells in some way or anther about Jesus.

This perfectly historical book also points out that it was given by divine inspiration and thus what is said is divine.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Notice Paul writes about that which he received and taught through he did not witness it. Luke says the same thing in Luke 1:1-4.

Luke 1:1–4 ESV

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Summary

Historical documents clearly indicate that Jesus was an amazing man whether they like what he did and taught or not.

No other man has so much secularly written about him after his death and resurrection demonstrating from a historical point of view that he was not like any other human, no he was divine.

Conclusion

Jesus being named “God” is vital because as we said in the beginning, that is not always the consensuses.

Yet, the one name Jesus is God and thanks be to God that he is.

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Acts 17:30 ESV

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Matthew 10:32 NKJV

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV

8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Romans 6:3–5 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

1 John 1:7 ESV

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Endnotes

https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx

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