40. Because we find it is written, every knee shall bow to Him—a homage due to God alone. "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth." Phil. 2:10. Compare this language with Rom. 14:11; "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
41. Because the Apostle Peter ascribes endless glory to Him. "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen." 2 Pet. 3:18.
42. Because we hear all the angels of God expressly commanded to worship the Son. "And again, when He bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him." Heb. 1:6. Does the Father command the angels to be guilty of idolatry?
43. Because, after the miracle of stilling the tempest, He permitted His disciples and others to worship Him. "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God." Matt. 14:33. "It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." Matt. 4:10.
44. Because, just before His ascension, those of His disciples whose faith was strongest, paid Him divine honors. "And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted." Matt. 28:17. Immediately after His ascension, we find them all united in paying Him this divine homage: "He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem." Luke 24:51, 52.
45. Because there are fifteen instances recorded of worship being actually paid to our Lord while on earth, without so much as a hint of disapprobation on His part. The reader will remember that Paul and Barnabas at Lystra, and the angel in Revelation, instantly repelled the worship which was about to be offered them. Would not the meek and lowly Savior have been equally jealous of His Father's honor, and so indignantly have repelled such idolatry, had He not been God, equal with the Father, and the proper object of religious worship? Would He otherwise have endured for a moment even the appearance of divine homage?
46. Because the mention of His name calls forth the worship of the redeemed first on earth: "To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Rev. 1:6, followed by their praise in heaven: "Thou art worthy to take the book,.." Rev. 5:9. Is the whole host of the redeemed in heaven continually employed in acts of idolatry?
47. Because John again testifies, that "the four beasts [more correctly, living creatures] and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors." But what are these odors, which the leaders of this celestial band, with such profound adoration, present to the Lamb? The Apostle has told us; they "are the prayers of saints." Here, then, are we certain that the Lamb is the object of worship, and of prayer, by the saints on earth, and the highest orders in heaven (Rev. 5:8).
48. Because this Apostle further informs us that he heard "every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them,... saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Rev. 5:13.
49. Because John again opens another scene to us, and the same lofty adorations are paid to the Lamb. "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations... stood before the throne, and before the Lamb,... and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." Rev. 7:9, 10.
50. Because John says again, "I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts [living creatures], and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Rev. 5:11, 12. What more can be ascribed to God? And if this be not supreme worship, what is?
51. Because, in short, it is not in the power of language to express acts of confidence and homage of a higher character than those which the Scriptures frequently represent as rendered to Christ.
CHRIST IS CREATOR OF ALL THINGS
52. Because, "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." Col. 1:16. Creation is everywhere appealed to as a prerogative of Jehovah. "Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, and He that formed thee,... I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself." Isa. 44:24. The evasion, that it was by Christ, as an instrument, is, besides being an absurd supposition, absolutely forbidden by God Himself. Mark His language: "I am the LORD... that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth the earth by Myself." Notice also how the name LORD and God are coupled together in Deut. 26:10: "And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God."
53. Because the inspired John bears a similar testimony, "The world was made by Him." John 1:10. Now the eternal power and Godhead of the Father are clearly understood by the things that are made (Horn. 1:20). Then do not these same works, which are repeatedly and in the most express terms ascribed to our Lord Jesus Christ, clearly show His eternal power and Godhead?
54. Because this Apostle confirms the same truth in another passage, with still more emphasis. "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1:3. The Holy Ghost then has settled the question of His deity. "He that built all things is God." Heb. 3:4.
55. Because in the following passage the Son is addressed, not only as the Creator of all things, but also as the unchangeable God. "Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands. They shall perish, but Thou remainest:... and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same." Heb. 1:10-12. (See Psalm 102:25-27.) What language could more sublimely describe the works and the immutable perfections of Omnipotence?
56. Because it is written, "All things were created by Him, and for Him." Col. 1:16. Not only then is Jesus Christ the Creator of all things, but likewise the ultimate end for which all things were made. But the Scripture saith, "The LORD hath made all things for Himself." Pro. 16:4. Then Jesus Christ is this LORD, or Jehovah. If being the Creator and the end of all creation does not designate the Supreme God, what does?
CHRIST IS JUDGE OF ALL
57. Because it is written, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10. He who is worthy to preside over the scenes of the final judgment, distribute rewards, and decree the final destiny for eternity, must be God.
58. Because Christ Himself declares, "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glary: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another," etc. Matt. 25:31, 32. Now the Bible forbids the belief that any being can weigh all the motives of all the actions, secret and open, of the human heart, but the omniscient God.
59. Because Paul again bears testimony to the same solemn truth. "We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Rom. 14:10.
60. Because he confirms this testimony in 2 Tim. 4:1. "The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead, at His appearing and His kingdom [or, as it is better translated, `and by His appearing and kingdom']."
61. Because we again hear Christ Himself declare, "The Son of man shall come... and then He shall reward every man according to his works." Matt. 16:27. But is not the Judge of all the earth God? See Gen. 18:25. Then is our Lord Jesus Christ, God, for in many different passages is He represented as the final Judge of the world. Are there two final judges? It is very evident we must stand before the throne of God and the throne of Christ; and render an account to God and to Christ; and receive our reward from God and from Christ. The Judge is God alone; but Jesus is the Judge. Therefore Jesus is God.
62. Because He is that Being whose almighty voice will raise all the dead. "The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His [Christ's] voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28, 29.