2. Because the voice of inspiration declares, "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,... believed on in the world, received up into glory." 1 Tim. 3:16. If Christ were but an inspired teacher, as one of the prophets, how is He God manifest in the flesh? What is there peculiar in His character? How does it differ from that of the prophets?
3. Because Isaiah, in so many words, announces Him as "The mighty God, The everlasting Father" (as this phrase imports, the Author and Possessor of eternity). Isa. 9:6.
4. Because John, in the most explicit manner; testifies to His deity. "The Word was God." John 1:1. What more decisive could the disciple have said? That this is Christ, is learned beyond a doubt from verse 14; "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father)."
5. Because He is styled the Lord of glory. "Had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." 1 Cor. 2:8.
6. Much has been said and written of late to prejudice the public mind against our most excellent translation [King James Version] of the Holy Scriptures, as though it were unwarrantably partial to Trinitarian views. That it is perfect, would be to say that the translators were more than human. That they were firm Trinitarians is granted, as the great body of holy and learned men have always been; but that on the whole a more fair and just representation of the original was never produced, has been acknowledged by all denominations of Christians speaking the English tongue, for more than two centuries. However, we do call attention to two passages where we believe a better rendering is sanctioned by the highest authorities. 2 Pet. 1:1 may be read, "Through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Also, Titus 2:13 may be read, "And the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." This makes our Savior the great God.
7. Because He is pronounced in so many words to be God over." all. "Of whom [the Jewish nation] as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever." Rom. 9:5. Is anything above Him who is God over all? Note also that His humanity is stressed: "of the seed of David according to the flesh." Rom. 1:3. "God over all," and "of the seed of David according to the flesh."
8. Because Christ claims, in unqualified terms, an equality with the Father. Christ, "being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." Phil. 2:6.
9. Because it cannot be said that "in Him dwelleth all the ' fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9), unless He be essentially God.
10. Because He is the JEHOVAH whom Isaiah saw in vision. "I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.... Above it stood the seraphim.... And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts.... And He said, Go,... Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes." Isa. 6:9, 10, 1-3.
That the Being seen in this vision is the supreme God, none will doubt. Now, the evangelist John informs us this was Christ and. His glory. "Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes.... These things said Esaias, when he saw His [Christ's] glory, and spake of Him." John 12:39-41. Therefore the Holy Spirit has declared Jesus Christ is JEHOVAH Of hosts.
11. Because He proclaims Himself to be God, and invites the ends of the earth to look to Him for salvation. "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself.... That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." Isa. 45:22, 23. The Apostle has declared that the Person who here speaks is Christ, and. quotes the last verse as an argument that all must appear before His judgment seat. "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." 2 Cor. 5:10. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." Rom. 14:11. Here you will observe the titles, Christ, Lord, and God, are used interchangeably, as of equal import.
12. Because the Father addresses the Son as God, in express terms. "Unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever." Heb. 1:8. Compare Psalm 45:6, from, which this is quoted, and where it is an address to God. But here we have the authority of an inspired apostle, that it was addressed to Christ. Then, without controversy, Christ is God.
13. Because the Lord God of the holy prophets, and Christ, are represented as the same Being by the inspired John. "The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show unto His servants the things which must shortly be done." Rev. 22:6. Observe, the Lord God sent His angel; then read the 16th verse. "I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches." Do you not perceive here "the Lord God" and "Jesus" are the same? They assume the same style and the same prerogative.
14. Because Isaiah again announces Him in prophecy as Jehovah of hosts. "Sanctify the Logo of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear.... And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling," etc. Isa. 8:13, 14. Is the Father anywhere represented as a stone of stumbling to the Jews? This language applies only to Christ. Compare 1 Pet. 2:7, 8, where the Apostle settles the question by interpreting the prophecy as of Christ.
"Unto you therefore which believe He [Christ] is precious: but unto them which be disobedient,... a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense."
15. Because He is the God whom all the Israelites tempted in the wilderness. "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents." 1 Cor. 10:9. Compare Exod. 17:7, and Numb. 21:5, 6. "The people spake against God,... and the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people." The psalmist says, "They tempted... the most high God." Psalm 78:56.
16. Because an apostle has declared that the following sublime description of the LORD God, by the psalmist, was a description of Christ. "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the LORD is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men." Now observe the application as quoted by Paul: "Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.... He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things. And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets"; etc. Psalm 68:17, 18; Eph. 4:8, 10, 11. Here the psalmist informs us that the Being who ascended up on high and led captivity captive, is God the LORD. The Apostle informs us that this Being, who ascended up on high and led captivity captive, is Christ. Then, on apostolic authority, Christ is God.
17. Because Thomas, in so many words, pronounced Him to be his Lord and his God. "And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God." John 20:28. For this act of faith Christ commended the adoring disciple. This is not a profane exclamation, but an address to Christ; Thomas answered and said unto Christ, My Lord and my God. Now had not the lowly Savior been worthy of such divine honor, would He not have administered a reproof instead of a blessing?
18. Because He is called "the Lord from heaven" and "Lord both of the dead and living." 1 Cor. 15:47; Rom. 14:9.
19. Because He is denominated, Lord of all. "Preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all)." Acts 10:36.
20. Because He is also solemnly announced by Paul to the Jews and Gentiles as Lord over all. "The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him." Rom. 10:12. Compare verse 11 with 1 Pet. 2:6. Is He not the supreme Lord who is Lord of all and God over all?
21. Because it is said He has a name that is above every name (Phil. 2:9).
22. Because He is addressed as Lord, Creator of heaven and earth. "Unto the Son He saith... Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands." Heb. 1:8, 10. The 10th verse is connected with the two preceding verses by the conjunction and, and is a continuation of the address to the Son. Compare Psalm 102:25-27.
23. Because He is repeatedly proclaimed, "Lord of lords, and King of kings." Rev. 17:14; 19:16. God is styled precisely in this way in 1 Tim. 6:15, and Deut. 10:17. He is also above all. "He that cometh from above is above all." John 3:31. Now who can be His superior, who is Lord of lords, and above all?
24. Because He is called, in so many words, the true God. "We are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." 1 John 5:20. What more explicit declaration of His deity can even the most incredulous demand?
25. Because the following passages demonstrably show there was formed a union of deity with humanity at the birth of Christ. "God was manifest in the flesh." 1 Tim. 3:16. When a child, He is denominated mighty God: "Unto us a child is born,... and His name shall be called The mighty God." Isa. 9:6. "Of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever." Rom. 9:5. He "thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but... was made in the likeness of men." Phil. 2:6, 7. "He... came down from heaven." John 3:13. "The Word was God.... And the Word was made flesh." John 1:1, 14. He repeatedly alluded to His original glory. These passages, and others like them, allude distinctly to His two natures, and are utterly unmeaning unless there were a union of the divine and the human at the birth of our Savior.
26. Because we are expressly informed that, to know Him is the same as to know the Father (John 14:7, 9).
27. Because to see Him is the same as to see the Father (John 14:9).
28. Because Paul offers prayer to Him jointly with the Father, in the same manner and for the same blessings. "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father,... comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." 2 Thess. 2:16, 17. Is it not idolatry to address prayer to Christ if He be not really God? What propriety is there in praying to a being who is not omniscient to know our desires, and omnipotent to satisfy them? To show that the usual mode adopted in Scripture, of placing the name of Christ after the Father, implies no inferiority, it is in this instance placed first.
29. Because Stephen, when full of the Holy Ghost and in most solemn circumstances, prayed to Christ and commended to Him his departing spirit. "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Acts 7:59, 60.
30. Because Paul besought the Lord (Christ, as is seen in the subsequent verse) thrice, that the thorn in his flesh might depart from him (2 Cor. 12:8). He also received from Him an answer: "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee." v. 9. Christ then is both the hearer and answerer of prayer. Is not this the prerogative of God alone?
31. Because it is written, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [Christ] shall be saved." Rom. 10:13.
32. Because Paul speaks of his dependence on Christ, and of Christ dwelling in him, in a manner in which it would be impious to speak of any one but God. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13. "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Gal. 2:20. How could this be said of a being who was not omnipotent to aid, and omnipresent to sustain? "I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD." Psalm 71:16.
33. Because we find Him joined with the Father in a solemn petition for divine guidance. "Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you." 1 Thess. 3:11.
34. Because. Paul prays for His never-failing presence with the soul of Timothy, just as we find the accompanying presence of the Father is everywhere prayed for. "The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit." 2 Tim. 4:22. Does not this prayer imply omnipresence?
35. Because the same Apostle speaks of Him as the being to whom he habitually looked for success in all his concerns. "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you." Phil. 2:19. Was the Apostle's habitual reliance then upon a creature? "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm." Jer. 17:5.
36. Because those Christians whom Paul persecuted before his conversion habitually offered prayers to Christ. "Here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name." Acts 9:14. "Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this [Christ's] name?" v. 21.
37. Because the custom of addressing their petitions to Christ was so prevalent in the apostolic churches, that Christians of that day were designated by that feature of their worship. "With all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Cor. 1:2. Would inspired apostles have offered worship and prayer habitually to one who was not God?
38. Because we find Christ solemnly addressed alone in prayer eight times in this particular form. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." Rom. 16:20, 24; 1 Cor. 16:23; Phil. 4:23, etc.
39. Because we find the name of Christ associated with the Father, and equally the object of a most solemn and comprehensive prayer, sixteen times in the epistles and once in the Revelation—also Rom. 1:7 Cor. 1:3 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3, etc. And in more than forty different passages through the New Testament do we find, either examples of prayer offered to Christ, or the duty of praying to Him expressly implied.