Christianity is vastly different from any and all other religions. It is more than a religion – it is the life of the Son of God made flesh and living in man. Christianity IS Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ IS Christianity. During His earthly ministry He claimed to be God incarnate. This claim can be accounted for:
HIS VIRGIN BIRTH
HIS HOLY, SINLESS LIFE
HIS MANY MIRACLES
HIS VICARIOUS DEATH AND HIS BODILY RESURRECTION
THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST IS WELL ESTABLISHED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:
- He is called God by the Apostle John. John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He is called God by the Apostle Thomas. John 20:28 – And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
He is called God by God the Father. Heb. 1:8 – But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.
He claimed to be God, in that He was with the Father before the creation. John 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. - He claimed to be God in that He was before Abraham. John 8: 51-59 –
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto Him, Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and Thou sayest, If a man keep My saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art Thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest Thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, my honour is nothing: it is My Father that honoureth Me; of whom ye say, that He is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. - He received worship – ONLY God is to be worshiped. Matt.14:14 – Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God. Angels refused worship. Rev. 22:8.9 –
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Man refused worship. Acts 10:25-26 –
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. - He forgives sin. Only God can forgive sin. Mark 2:5-11 –5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,7 Why doth this Man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?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?9 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?10 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,)11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
- He is creator and maker of all things. 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. . .
- He is sustainer of all things. Only God can control the universe. 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. . .
- He claimed to have all power in heaven AND earth. Matt. 28:18 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
HE WALKED ON WATER – THE WINDS AND WATERS OBEYED HIS COMMANDS – HE HEALED THE SICK – HE RAISED THE DEAD – HE GAVE SIGHT TO THE BLIND – HE GAVE HEARING TO THE DEAF – HE MADE THE LAME TO WALK – HE CAST OUT DEMONS – HE TURNED WATER INTO WINE – HE FED FIVE THOUSAND WITH THE LUNCH OF ONE BOY

He is the God-man Christ Jesus in glory, exalted above all creatures in heaven and earth, and having “all power in heaven and earth.”
