Category Archives: A Case for Christ

A Case for Christianity: The importance of understanding Jesus’ claim to Deity when practicing Christian Apologetics

“After studying the historical origins of the Christian faith, I came to these conclusions: that Jesus died on the cross is as certain as anything historical can be; that he rose from the dead is by far the best explanation of the events surrounding his death; and that Jesus claimed to be God is the best explanation for the immediate Christian proclamation of Jesus’ deity. Putting it all together: Jesus claimed to be God, and he proved it by rising from the dead. The case for Christianity is powerful. Despite my ardent desire to believe in Islam, I had to admit that history was in favor of Christian claims, and even more reluctantly, that it challenged Islamic teachings.”

-Nabeel Qureshi, “No God But One”

Last week we looked at the answer to the question: Who is Jesus? More importantly: Who do you say Jesus is? How we answer that question has eternal consequence. As Christians we believe that Jesus came as God incarnate. He is the second person in the God-Head (Trinity), and there is much historical and Biblical evidence for this claim.

What did Jesus claim?

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”  

-John 14:7-9

Note: John 14:28 is a passage often used by those who deny the Trinity or Jesus’ claim to be God: Jesus says, You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” But, Jesus is speaking of their roles in the God-Head. Just like we might say, “the President of the United States is greater than I am,” does not mean that the President is humanly greater but only greater in role or job duties. (Nabeel Qureshi uses this example in his presentation)

Jesus demonstrated that He has the Nature of God:

  1. His Omniscience: (John 4:16-30) He is “all-knowing”
  2. His Omnipresence: (Matthew 28:20) He is “everywhere present”
  3. His Omnipotence: (John 11:38-44, Mark 6:48) He is “all-powerful”

Listen to J. Warner Wallace, on the One Minute Apologist, explain the evidence:

Jesus willingly submitted Himself to the Father and took on humanness, this is called…

Kenosis:  The renunciation of the divine nature, at least in part, by Christ in the Incarnation. (Greek: κένωσις, kénōsis, lit. emptiness) the ‘self-emptying’ of one’s own will and becoming entirely receptive to God’s divine will.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

-Philippians 2:5-11 

Listen to Nabeel Quereshi give a powerful presentation as to why we should believe that Jesus is God:

Importance of the term: “Son of Man”

Dr. William Lane Craig, Philosopher and New Testament Scholar explains, Son of Man” is often thought to indicate the humanity of Jesus, just as the reflex expression ‘Son of God’ indicates his divinity. In fact, just the opposite is true. The Son of Man was a divine figure in the Old Testament book of Daniel who would come at the end of the world to judge mankind and rule forever. Thus, the claim to be the Son of Man would be in effect a claim to divinity.”

Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!”  

-Matthew 26:64-66

Jesus’ answer was a direct reference to the prophet Daniel:

“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.  

-Daniel 7:13-14

Jesus’ life, words, and actions evidence His Deity throughout the Gospels:

  1. Mark 1:2-3: Messenger is preparing the way for “God” (also see Malachi 3:1)
  2. Mark 2:1-10: Forgives sins (only God can do that)
  3. Mark 2:27-28: Authority over the Sabbath (only God can have that)
  4. Mark 6:45-52: Authority over the creative order and the laws of nature as He walks on water (only the Creator-God can do that)
  5. Mark 14:60-62: Jesus’ use of I AM and His quote of Daniel 7:13 for Himself (This is what He was crucified for = blasphemy/claiming to be God)
  6. Matthew 5:18: Rabbi’s referenced another Rabbi’s authority when they spoke, but Jesus prefaced many of His statements with His own authority, only God could do that. (This would resonate with the Jewish audience who knew the Old Testament Scriptures and would recognize what Jesus was saying, not only as the Messiah, but as God Himself)
  7. John 10:25-29: Jesus says that He and God are one (Claim to Deity and second person in the Trinity)
  8. John 11:1-46: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (Only God has power over life and death)

Example: The Healing of the Paralytic, Read Mark 2:1-12 (story also found in Matthew and Luke):

Jesus performed this very specific miracle, giving evidence of His Deity in two ways:

  1. Authority over the physical world by healing a paralyzed person
  2. Authority over the Spiritual world by forgiving sins

The point in this example: Only God could forgive sins and in order to prove that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” Jesus heals the paralytic. Theologians and scholars have cited Jesus’ distinguishing characteristic as being how He performed miracles on His own authority and not in the name of someone else as others did. He also tells His disciples to do the same, and to do it in His name. He does not have to ask permission for what He does, and for that there is just no comparison.

One of the most convincing accounts of Jesus’ claim to Deity is found in the Gospel of John:

Jesus said to them: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (8:58)

This is what the Jewish Sanhedrin convicted Jesus on: Blasphemy—Jesus claimed to be God, YHWH the great “I AM”!

Only God incarnate could make the kinds of claims Jesus did, do the kinds of miracles Jesus did, and only God’s Son could sit at the right hand of the Father as Jesus does.

Greg Koukl, Apologist and President of Stand to Reason has said:

Why is Jesus the only way? Because Jesus is only one who solved the problem of sin. This is the core issue: How do we deal with sin? Other religions don’t give the right answer. None of the leaders of any other religions—Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, not any of them—died for your sins. They had sins of their own to pay for. Death is evidence of our sin. After all these years, with all our technology, the death rate is still 100%. But Jesus defeated death by rising from the dead. Death couldn’t hold Him in the grave.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them was written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

-John 21:25

For a deeper study on this topic, watch Mike Licona, New Testament Scholar, Author, Apologist, and Professor at Huston Baptist, speak at the (Un)apologetic Conference in Texas:


Reflection

  1. How would you answer the question: Did Jesus claim to be God?
  2. What are some examples from Scripture that you can memorize to give evidence of Jesus’ Deity? Write them out for memory practice.
  3. Prayer focus: Jesus’ role in the God-Head (Trinity) and how we pray through Him to the Father

Bible Study

Each week we will do a Bible study to practice our Bible study skills. This week we will look at the Hermeneutics of 1 Corinthians.

Before starting a new study in a book of the Bible it is important to do a study for the hermeneutics (to correctly interpret) by getting the background and context of the book first:

  1. Who is the author (1:1) and what is his background (how is he qualified to write this book)? Cross reference with the book of Galatians chapter 1 verse 1 and 11-24—what more do you learn here about this author? Where else in the Bible can we find this author and did he write any other books?
  2. When was this book written? Why do you think it is important to know when this book was written?
  3. Who is the audience? Was he writing to non-believers or believers? (1:2-9) Why is it important to know the audience? The book of Acts is a blueprint for most of Paul’s Epistles. Cross-reference by reading Acts chapter 18 for the relationship between Paul and the Corinthian Church. (Special note: compare 1 Corinthians 1:1 with Acts18:17 – who was Sosthenes?)
  4. This book’s genre is an “Epistle” which is a letter specifically written to a group (not a person). What purpose did he have in writing this epistle? (1:10-17)
  5. Going deeper: What was going on in the culture at the time that might help with understanding the purpose? Do we see examples of these same problems in our culture today?

Join us next week as we continue our case for Christianity by examining the evidence for the existence of God.

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15

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