Introduction: Who would you think of if I described a man this way: He holds his elected office for four years, or if fortunate, for eight years; is the commander-in-chief of his countries armed forces; is the head of one of the three main branches of government of his country; he usually has 1/2 of his country for him and the other half against him; has men around him at all times dedicated to protecting him or giving their lives in doing so; and he is one of the most well-known men in the world during his life-time. What office am I describing? Of course I was briefly describing the office of the President of the United States of America. You probably picked up on that by the description of the office of the president - what he does.

We can do the same thing when it comes the greatest Commander-In-Chief of all eternity - God, and specifically God’s Son, Jesus Christ. The Word of God does provide us a glimpse into the office of Christ and the message that always flashes brightly is that Jesus is God, his offices prove it.

Therefore, let’s take a look at some of those offices that the Word of God dedicates to Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I. He is the creator of the universe

The scriptural proof:

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

Ÿ We have been to this first chapter of John before - when we were studying some of the names given to Jesus Christ that prove his deity. We determined then that the name “Word” in verse 1 is speaking of Jesus and proves his deity. Since the subject of these verses is the Word, and that is Jesus, then verse three is still speaking of Jesus Christ.

Ÿ A key word in this verse is the word “made”. The first two times the word is in the Aorist Indicative Mood of the verb which indicates an action that has taken place. It can be translated “came into being”. It could also be translated “to be created” or “to exist by creation.” The third time the word “made” is used in the sentence in is in the 2nd Perfect verb tense which signifies an action as having been completed in the past but as having existing results. English has no equivalent, but it is usually best translated by using the words “has” or “have”. In a literal translation of this third word “made” we could say, “which has come into being.”

Ÿ I have no question in my mind that this verse is clearly teaching that Jesus created all things at the time God created all things.

2. Colossians 1:16 says, 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:

3. Ephesians 3:9 says, 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:

4. Hebrews 1:2,10 says, by whom also he made the worlds...And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: This verse and the next two in Hebrews 1 are a quote from Psalm 102:25-27 and are a continuation of the author of Hebrews argument concerning the superiority of Jesus Christ to the angels because He is God. God was the One who laid the foundation of the earth, and in Hebrews 1:10 the Lord is identified as being the one who laid the foundation of the earth.

Conclusion: Jesus Christ is the Creator and not a creation, and as such He is infinite and not finite, Divine, not human, God and not man.

II. Preserver Of All Things

1. Hebrews 1:3 says, 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:

Of course, the key phrase for our purposes of understanding what the Word of God teaches concerning the deity of Jesus Christ is the phrase - “upholding all things by the word of his power.” The idea behind the word “upholdeth” is maintaining or sustaining all things. The same power that created the world and all things in it, is still the power that maintains it. The same One who spoke the worlds into existence still upholds all things by the “word of His power.” The Son of God carries all things forward on their appointed course. The phrase “by the word of his power” could also be understood as “His mighty word” or “His enabling word.”

2. Colossians 1:17 says, And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

We just got done studying verse 16 so this verse is still referring to Jesus Christ. Actually there are two thoughts in this verse which point to the deity and preeminence of Christ. The first phrase says that “he is before all things.” We can say with certainty that the “all things” is speaking about the “all things” he created in verse 16. It would be impossible for Christ to create all things if He did not exist before those “all things” were created.

The second part of verse 17 provides us another term that teaches us that Christ is the preserver of all things. It is the word “consist”. A literal translation of the Greek here could be: “by Him all things stand together.”

Warren Wiersbe in his book “Be Complete” on the book of Colossians gives this illustration: A guide took a group of people through an atomic laboratory and explained how all matter was composed of rapidly moving electric particles. The tourists studied models of molecules and were amazed to learn that matter is made up primarily of space. During the question period, one visitor asked, “If this is the way matter works, what holds it all together?” For that, the guide had no answer.

We have the answer: Jesus Christ.

We can thus conclude: The preservation of all things which is a Divine function is ascribed to Christ, thus proving His deity.

III. Jesus Is The Forgiver Of Sins

1. Mark 2:5-11 says, When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 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? 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? 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,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

2. We know from 1 John 1:9 that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Since only God can forgive sins, and since Jesus Christ forgave sins, then we can say that Jesus’ claim to deity is legitimate.

3. It is a very dangerous thing when people are taught that they need to confess their sins to a man, a priest, who can pray for them that their sins will be forgiven. The church of Roman, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that her priests can forgive sins. In the Council of Trent they stated: “They (priests) pardon sins, not only as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, but as judges, and by way jurisdiction. Whosoever shall affirm that the priest’s sacramental absolution is not a judicial act, but only a ministry to pronounce and declarethat the sins of the party confessing are forgiven, let him be anathema.” The priest, after hearing the confession, says to the penitent: “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

4. I trust it is clear to each one here tonight that this is blatantly evil and wrong, for the Word of God declares that God is only able to forgive sins, and since Jesus is God, even when he humbled Himself and took on the form of a man, He was able to forgive people of their sins while He was on this earth. He did so because He is God.

IV. Jesus Will Judge The Quick And The Dead

1. 2 Timothy 4:1 says, I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; The Apostle Paul is encouraging his son in the faith, Timothy, to remain true to God’s Word in preaching it and living it. He is charging Timothy to comply with these commands because both Timothy and Paul will one day stand before the Lord Jesus Christ - we all will.

2. It is notable that Paul connects both God and the Lord Jesus Christ in the one thought of judging. There will not be two judgments for believers - one for God, and one for Jesus Christ. The judgment seat of Christ is one and the same with God’s judgment of believers because God and the Lord Jesus Christ are one and the same.

3. The quick and the dead can refer to those who are alive and those who are dead at Christ’s coming, or the quick can refer to those who are saved, and the dead refers to those who are lost. Either way, Christ has been appointed the judge, and will execute all future judgments.

4. Throughout the Old Testament we are given evidence that God is the Judge. In these two passages He is called The Judge.

a. Gen. 18:25 (Abraham and the angel of the LORD before the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah) That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

b. Judges 11:27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon. Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

5. Though God has raised up and taken down human judges throughout time, He is the eternal Judge, and that judgment has also been assigned to Christ. Thus, since eternal judgment is a divine function, being assigned to Christ, we have another proof of Christ’s deity.

V. Jesus Is The Giver Of Eternal Life

1. John 10:23-30 says, And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 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 man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

2. Clearly Jesus is saying that it is within His power to bestow eternal life upon those who are His. John 3:16 says that all who believe in Jesus Christ will not perish but have everlasting life.

3. John 17:2,3 says, As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Again we find Jesus declaring that He has the right to give eternal life to all those whom the Father has given to Him.

4. Only a Being who inherently possess eternal life can bestow it, and God alone possess eternal life in the absolute sense; therefore Jesus Christ as the bestower of eternal life must of necessity be God.

Conclusion: We have seen five divine offices that are assigned to Jesus Christ that prove His deity tonight:

- He is creator of the universe

- He is the preserver of all things

- He is the forgiver of sins

- He is the judge of the quick and the dead, and

- He is the giver of eternal life.


		Jesus' Deity Proven By His Divine Offices

Home Baptist Basics Documents Messages Ministries Crusader Club Our Missionaries Our History Guest Book Contact Directions Helpful Links Announcements Vacation Bible School	Introduction: Who would you think of if I described a man this way: He holds his elected office for four years, or if fortunate, for eight years; is the commander-in-chief of his countries armed forces; is the head of one of the three main branches of government of his country; he usually has 1/2 of his country for him and the other half against him; has men around him at all times dedicated to protecting him or giving their lives in doing so; and he is one of the most well-known men in the world during his life-time. What office am I describing? Of course I was briefly describing the office of the President of the United States of America. You probably picked up on that by the description of the office of the president - what he does. We can do the same thing when it comes the greatest Commander-In-Chief of all eternity - God, and specifically God’s Son, Jesus Christ. The Word of God does provide us a glimpse into the office of Christ and the message that always flashes brightly is that Jesus is God, his offices prove it. Therefore, let’s take a look at some of those offices that the Word of God dedicates to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I. He is the creator of the universe The scriptural proof: 1. John 1:3 *All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.* Ÿ We have been to this first chapter of John before - when we were studying some of the names given to Jesus Christ that prove his deity. We determined then that the name “Word” in verse 1 is speaking of Jesus and proves his deity. Since the subject of these verses is the Word, and that is Jesus, then verse three is still speaking of Jesus Christ. Ÿ A key word in this verse is the word “made”. The first two times the word is in the Aorist Indicative Mood of the verb which indicates an action that has taken place. It can be translated “came into being”. It could also be translated “to be created” or “to exist by creation.” The third time the word “made” is used in the sentence in is in the 2nd Perfect verb tense which signifies an action as having been completed in the past but as having existing results. English has no equivalent, but it is usually best translated by using the words “has” or “have”. In a literal translation of this third word “made” we could say, “which has come into being.” Ÿ I have no question in my mind that this verse is clearly teaching that Jesus created all things at the time God created all things. 2. Colossians 1:16 says, 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: 3. Ephesians 3:9 says, *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:* 4. Hebrews 1:2,10 says, *by whom also he made the worlds...And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:* This verse and the next two in Hebrews 1 are a quote from Psalm 102:25-27 and are a continuation of the author of Hebrews argument concerning the superiority of Jesus Christ to the angels because He is God. God was the One who laid the foundation of the earth, and in Hebrews 1:10 the Lord is identified as being the one who laid the foundation of the earth. Conclusion: Jesus Christ is the Creator and not a creation, and as such He is infinite and not finite, Divine, not human, God and not man. II. Preserver Of All Things 1. Hebrews 1:3 says, 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: Of course, the key phrase for our purposes of understanding what the Word of God teaches concerning the deity of Jesus Christ is the phrase - “upholding all things by the word of his power.” The idea behind the word “upholdeth” is maintaining or sustaining all things. The same power that created the world and all things in it, is still the power that maintains it. The same One who spoke the worlds into existence still upholds all things by the “word of His power.” The Son of God carries all things forward on their appointed course. The phrase “by the word of his power” could also be understood as “His mighty word” or “His enabling word.” 2. Colossians 1:17 says, *And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.* We just got done studying verse 16 so this verse is still referring to Jesus Christ. Actually there are two thoughts in this verse which point to the deity and preeminence of Christ. The first phrase says that “he is before all things.” We can say with certainty that the “all things” is speaking about the “all things” he created in verse 16. It would be impossible for Christ to create all things if He did not exist before those “all things” were created. The second part of verse 17 provides us another term that teaches us that Christ is the preserver of all things. It is the word “consist”. A literal translation of the Greek here could be: “by Him all things stand together.” Warren Wiersbe in his book “Be Complete” on the book of Colossians gives this illustration: A guide took a group of people through an atomic laboratory and explained how all matter was composed of rapidly moving electric particles. The tourists studied models of molecules and were amazed to learn that matter is made up primarily of space. During the question period, one visitor asked, “If this is the way matter works, what holds it all together?” For that, the guide had no answer. We have the answer: Jesus Christ. We can thus conclude: The preservation of all things which is a Divine function is ascribed to Christ, thus proving His deity. III. Jesus Is The Forgiver Of Sins 1. Mark 2:5-11 says, When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 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? 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? 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,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 2. We know from 1 John 1:9 that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Since only God can forgive sins, and since Jesus Christ forgave sins, then we can say that Jesus’ claim to deity is legitimate. 3. It is a very dangerous thing when people are taught that they need to confess their sins to a man, a priest, who can pray for them that their sins will be forgiven. The church of Roman, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that her priests can forgive sins. In the Council of Trent they stated: “They (priests) pardon sins, not only as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, but as judges, and by way jurisdiction. Whosoever shall affirm that the priest’s sacramental absolution is not a judicial act, but only a ministry to pronounce and declarethat the sins of the party confessing are forgiven, let him be anathema.” The priest, after hearing the confession, says to the penitent: “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” 4. I trust it is clear to each one here tonight that this is blatantly evil and wrong, for the Word of God declares that God is only able to forgive sins, and since Jesus is God, even when he humbled Himself and took on the form of a man, He was able to forgive people of their sins while He was on this earth. He did so because He is God. IV. Jesus Will Judge The Quick And The Dead 1. 2 Timothy 4:1 says, *I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;* The Apostle Paul is encouraging his son in the faith, Timothy, to remain true to God’s Word in preaching it and living it. He is charging Timothy to comply with these commands because both Timothy and Paul will one day stand before the Lord Jesus Christ - we all will. 2. It is notable that Paul connects both God and the Lord Jesus Christ in the one thought of judging. There will not be two judgments for believers - one for God, and one for Jesus Christ. The judgment seat of Christ is one and the same with God’s judgment of believers because God and the Lord Jesus Christ are one and the same. 3. The quick and the dead can refer to those who are alive and those who are dead at Christ’s coming, or the quick can refer to those who are saved, and the dead refers to those who are lost. Either way, Christ has been appointed the judge, and will execute all future judgments. 4. Throughout the Old Testament we are given evidence that God is the Judge. In these two passages He is called The Judge. a. Gen. 18:25 (Abraham and the angel of the LORD before the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah) That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? b. Judges 11:27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon. Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him. 5. Though God has raised up and taken down human judges throughout time, He is the eternal Judge, and that judgment has also been assigned to Christ. Thus, since eternal judgment is a divine function, being assigned to Christ, we have another proof of Christ’s deity. V. Jesus Is The Giver Of Eternal Life 1. John 10:23-30 says, And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 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 man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. 2. Clearly Jesus is saying that it is within His power to bestow eternal life upon those who are His. John 3:16 says that all who believe in Jesus Christ will not perish but have everlasting life. 3. John 17:2,3 says, As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Again we find Jesus declaring that He has the right to give eternal life to all those whom the Father has given to Him. 4. Only a Being who inherently possess eternal life can bestow it, and God alone possess eternal life in the absolute sense; therefore Jesus Christ as the bestower of eternal life must of necessity be God. Conclusion: We have seen five divine offices that are assigned to Jesus Christ that prove His deity tonight: - He is creator of the universe - He is the preserver of all things - He is the forgiver of sins - He is the judge of the quick and the dead, and - He is the giver of eternal life.