Introduction: Each one here who is a parent has gone through the process of naming their children.  The process probably began not too long after it was confirmed that a new member of the family was on the way. We might have looked at name books, or you may have looked at your families genealogy, or you may have looked as close as your own names for a name to give to this future new member of the family.  Sometimes a name is chosen for what it means.   Among the Jews of Bible times, this seems to be one of the ways they named their children.  A good example of this would be the name chosen by Phinehas’ wife for the son born on the day Phinehas died - Ichabod = The glory is departed from Israel.  What a name to carry all through one’s life.  Your name then would have told others something about you or your background.

 

Yes, there are many names in this world that people have carried with them while their lived here, but there are some other names which are even more important and worthy and meaningful - the names Jesus wore. Last Sunday PM we examined four of those names - Mighty God, The Word of God, Alpha and Omega, and The Lord of Glory.  This evening we will examine a few more of Jesus’ names that declare His deity as God.

 

I. Immanuel - Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23

1. Some of tried to take apart what it says in Isaiah 7:14 and change the word “virgin” to “young woman, and attempt to make that young woman to be the wife of the prophet, and the son born to be the son of the prophet.  If this interpretation is accepted then the force of the passage is lost.  The prophecy goes on to state in verse 16 that before the child knows right and wrong both kingdoms and their kings in Israel and Judah will be taken out.  This happened a long time after this prophecy.

 

2. This passage in Isaiah 7:14 can be interpreted by comparing it with what it says in Matthew 1:23 where Matthew clearly makes the connection of this promised child in Isaiah to Jesus Christ.  As Matthew states, the name Immanuel means “God with us.”

 

3. This is the only gospel account that includes this very important name and this reference back to Isaiah 7:14.

 

4. When Matthew 1:21-23 are taken together we have the clear teaching that the Messiah that would come would not only be fully man, but also fully God.

 

5. There was absolutely no excuse for the people of Jesus’ day to not know, that when Jesus came and declared Himself the Messiah and proved it by His words and deeds, that He was, in fact, the Christ, the Son of God.

 

II. God - 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.

 

1. The author of the book of Hebrews begins this book by declaring that God has spoken to mankind, in these last day, through His Son.  It is clear from Heb. 1:3 that the author of Hebrews is referring to no one else but Jesus Christ.  The author then declares that God’s Son, Jesus, is far greater than any of the created angels.

 

2. One of the truths that is never used in reference to a created being, an angel, is that they are called God.  In Hebrews 1:8, the Son is called God, and the context has already taught us that the Son is Jesus Christ, the One who died for us.  Thus Jesus is being called God by God in this verse.  “The reflexive construction of Psalm 45:6-7, which is carried over into Hebrews 1:8,9, shows God to be the anointer and God also to be the one anointed.”

 

3. Hebrews 1:8,9 are a direct quote from Psalm 45:6,7.  Psalm 45 has been understood in different ways.  Some have seen it as a love psalm between a man and a woman.  That can’t be discounted.  But since the Holy Spirit of God directed the author of Hebrews to quote from Psalm 45, we can with authority find meaning in it’s words as they relate to Jesus Christ in vss 1-8 and to His bride, the Church, in verses 9-17.  It is with that background that we take into account these verses in Hebrews 1:8,9.  It is mainly verse 8 that we are interested in this PM, but verse 9 is also part of the quote from Psalm 45.  I also include it because some have misunderstood what it means at the end of Heb. 1:9 when it says, “above thy fellows.”

 

4. It is clear from Heb. 1:8 that the Son is God and that the Son is a King.  The thought at the end of verse 9 should not be understood that Jesus is one of many created beings but is higher than the others.  This would fall directly into the camp of those who do not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ.  Rather, Jesus has been anointed, a sign of Kingship, and His Kingship is far above any other kings that have ruled and reigned on this earth.  Compare what I just said to what Paul writes in Phil. 2:7-11 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 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; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

5. John 20:28-29 - And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  The Greek words used of deity in verse 28 are Kurios and Theos.  In some translations LORD is written as Lord.  I looked up the various times that kurios is used in the book of John it varies as to whether it is Lord or LORD.  Most of the time it is Lord.  The word Lord is vital and important, but for our purposes tonight it is important to see how Thomas, in seeing mortal wounds in the body of Jesus, finally realizes and believes that Jesus is God and calls Jesus God.  Jesus never rebukes Thomas for saying these words to Him.  Only God has the right to be called God.

 

6. Titus 2:13 says, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

“The grammatical construction of the Greek words here: tou megalou theou kai soteros hemon Iesous Christou reflects the Granville Sharpe Rule: When two nouns are joined by kia (and) and when the first noun has the definite article (tou) and the seond does not, the two nouns refer to the same thing.  Hence, “great God” and “Savior” both refer to Jesus Christ.”

 

III. The Holy One - Acts 3:14

 

1. Read: Acts 3:12-15.  Now notice the second half of verse 13 which says, whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.  It is obvious from the context that the “whom” here is none other than “Jesus”.  Therefore, the one whom they delivered up and denied before Pilate was Jesus, and we would know that anyhow from knowing the Passion story.  Now notice Acts 3:14.  This verse carries right along with the previous one.  The same people are being referred to who delivered and denied Jesus, but now Jesus is referred to as the Holy One and the Just. (Or as some translation say, and the Greek - The Holy and Righteous One).  We know Peter is still referring to the Passion of Jesus for Barabus is mentioned - “desired a murderer.”

 

2. Now how does this name “Holy One” prove the deity of Jesus Christ?  Why would Peter pronounce this name on the occasion of preaching a message to the crowds that had gathered that day at the gate Beautiful on the Temple Mount after the healing of the lame man?  It was because the people were thinking that Peter and John had healed this man, when it really had been God.  Peter wants to direct the people’s attention to the truth that Jesus Christ, whom they crucified, is God, the Holy One.  So back to the question - How does this name prove Jesus’ deity?

 

3. I did a search with my PDF file of the OT and when it hit the book of Isaiah it begin bringing up quite a few hits.  From Gen - Song of Solomon there were six references to the Holy One.  Thirty times in the book of Isaiah - Jehovah is called the Holy One.  Here are a few examples:

Isaiah 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Isaiah 41:14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 47:14 As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.

 

4. It would be rather hard hearted to miss what Peter was preaching here - The Holy One of Israel which is clearly a title of deity, is the same name Peter uses for Jesus - a name of deity. 

 

Conclusion: I think that is enough to digest this week.  There is so much more in the Word of God that undeniably proves the Deity of Jesus Christ.  There is absolutely no reason for anyone to believe or teach otherwise.  Learn these names and know these references so you can defend this cardinal doctrine.