63. Because He assumes the disposal of the rewards of heaven, the peculiar prerogative of God. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev. 2:10.
64. Because the Scriptures declare Jesus knew the thoughts of men. "And Jesus knowing their thoughts," etc. Matt. 9:4. The prerogative of God alone. "Thou, even Thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men." 1 Kings 8:39.
65. Because it is positively declared, "He knew all men... He knew what was in man." John 2:24, 25.
66. Because He is solemnly appealed to in prayer, as knowing the hearts of all men. "Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men." Acts 1:24.
67. Because He proclaims Himself to all the thousands of His worshipers to be the great searcher of hearts. "And all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts." Rev. 2:23. That the Son here speaks, see verse 18. Is not this the very air of deity alone? "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins," etc. Jer. 17:10. What can be more manifest? If Jehovah alone search the heart, and yet the Scripture expressly affirms that Christ possesses that prerogative, then Christ must be Jehovah.
68. Because His disciples bear testimony to His omniscience in so many words, just before His crucifixion. "Now are we sure that Thou knowest all things." John 16:30. Would the meekness of Jesus have suffered the divine attribute of omniscience to be thus ascribed to Him had He not possessed it?
69. Because the same solemn testimony to His omniscience is repeated by Peter after His resurrection, and the faith of His disciples had been wonderfully strengthened. "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee." John 21:17. Can language be more expressive?
CHRIST IS OMNIPOTENT
70. Because He says, "I have power to lay it [His life] down, and I have power to take it again." John 10:18. What creature ever possessed this power? Are not the issues of life and death with God alone?
71. Because He is "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." Eph. 1:21. What more could be said of God?
72. Because He is absolutely declared to be "the head of all... 'power." Col. 2:10. The head of all power must be He who originates and wields all power; and who is this but the Almighty God?
73. Because He is not only represented as the creator of all things, but also as the upholder of all things, and this not by an effort, as creatures sustain a burden, but by His Word. "Upholding all things by the word of His power." Heb. 1:3. What more sublime description of Jehovah! He is called also, "The mighty God." Isa. 9:6. Who is this Being, that upholds millions of worlds with all their splendors by His powerful word? Is it a dependent creature, or is it the only true God?
74. Because of the divine authority which He assumed in healing the leper. "I will; be thou clean"; and the leprous man was cleansed (Matt. 8:3). Is not this the language of Him "who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will"? Eph. 1:11.
75. Because of the divine majesty and power with which He spoke to the paralytic. "Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house; and he arose, and departed to his house." Matt. 9:6. Here is the air and manner of Jehovah alone: "Let there be light"; "Let there be a firmament," etc.
76. Because He assumes the authority of God over the elements. When the winds and the waves were raging, "He... rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39. Does not this remind us of the psalmist's description of the Almighty? "0 LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto Thee?... Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, Thou stillest them." Psalm 89:8, 9.
77. Because He assumes divine authority over death. He said to the widow's son, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up." Luke 7:14, 15. To Lazarus He said, "Come forth," and he that had been dead four days came forth (John 11:43, 44). The prophets had to wait for special commissions from heaven, but "the Son quickeneth whom He will" (John 5:21).
78. Because He assumes divine authority over demons. "He cast out the spirits with His word." Matt. 8:16. In these instances, it was not borrowed power, be it remembered. Jesus manifested His own glory by His miracles. "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory." John 2:11. So when He raised Lazarus He said, "I am the resurrection and the life."
79. Because the disciples wrought miracles in the name of Christ, thereby acknowledging that their authority and power to suspend what are called laws in nature, were derived from Him, as the God of nature. "His name, through faith in His name, hath made this man strong." Acts 3:16. "Peter said unto him, Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole." Chap. 9:34.
80. Because then, in a word, He wrought miracles—by His own power—according to His own will—for His own glory—with a divine authority—and likewise commissioned His disciples to work them in His name.
81. Because He says, "I... have the keys of hell [hades] and of death." Rev. 1:18. He also declares Himself to be that Almighty Being who "openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth." Chap. 3:7. Is not this the prerogative of God alone? "Unto God the Lord belong the issues from death." Psalm 68:20.
82. Because He asserts His omnipotence when He says there is no work which the Father performs but He performs likewise. "What things soever He [the Father] doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." John 5:19. Observe these expressions; do not the works of the Father prove Him omnipotent? But the Son performs the very same works in like manner; then, without controversy, they prove the Son omnipotent.
83. Because He is represented as the great fountain from which Christians of all ages and countries receive their supplies. "Of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." John 1:16. This is just as God is represented. "With Thee is the fountain of life." Psalm 36:9.
84. Because He says to Paul in a season of severe conflict, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness," etc. 2 Cor. 12:9. Who but the all-sufficient God would presume to use such language! Says the psalmist, "God is the strength of my heart." Psalm 73:26.
85. When, therefore, the Savior says, "I can of Mine own self do nothing," He does not intend to deny these claims to omnipotence, but to deny all separate interest from the Father, and to declare His essential oneness with Him; or, we may consider Him as speaking of Himself in the humble form of a servant which He assumed; in both respects the assertion is obviously true and in perfect harmony with His claims, as God, to omnipotence.
86. Because He in so many words assumes to Himself the attribute of omnipotence. "I am Alpha and Omega,... the Almighty." Rev. 1:8. He is the One of verse 7, who was pierced.
87. Because He not only healed all manner of diseases and raised the dead in His own name, but, with the same air of divine authority, said to the paralytic, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Mark 2:5. Would not this be blasphemy, were He not Himself the great Lawgiver, the supreme Judge, even God? "Who can forgive sins but God only?" Mark 2:7. The language of Jehovah is, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions." Isa. 43:25. Jesus Christ authoritatively pronounced the forgiveness of sins; He is therefore God.
CHRIST IS OMNIPRESENT
87. Because He declared Himself to be in heaven at the same time He was on earth, thereby showing that He is omnipresent. In conversation with Nicodemus He says, "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." John 3:13. Paul to the Ephesians, chapter 1:23, speaks of "the fullness of Him [Christ] that filleth all in all." This accords with the language of Jehovah: "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."
88. Because He says, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt. 18:20. Who could make the promise but the omnipotent God? Compare this with the language of God in Exod. 20:24: "In all places where I record My name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee."
89. Because He promises His disciples and, through them, all Christians, to be present with them as an unfailing source of consolation. "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:18. Is not this the common consolation which the omnipresent God gives His people? "Fear not; for I am with thee." Isa. 43:5.
90. Because He again promises He will manifest Himself to the man that loves Him, and in the same manner as God visits every pious soul. "I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.... My Father will love him, and We will come unto him." John 14:21, 23.
91. Because there is a holy, familiar communion maintained between Christ and believers over the whole earth. "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:3.
92. Because He proclaims Himself to be that omniscient and omnipresent Being, who, though on His Father's throne in heaven, yet at the same time walks "in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks [the seven churches]." Rev. 2:1.
93. Because He declares in so many words, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:20. Not merely by good wishes, but by an efficient presence, so that Paul could say, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13. Does not our Savior here assume the omnipresence of God, and claim the confidence which belongs to God alone? "The LORD is the strength of my life." "In God I have put my trust." Psalm 27:1; 56:4.
HIS ETERNAL EXISTENCE
94. Because in prophecy He is represented as existing from eternity. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Mic. 5:2. Compare Matt. 2:6, where the evangelist applies it to Christ.
94. Because He says, "Before Abraham was, I am." John 8:58. God, in His message to Pharaoh, styled Himself, "I AM." Exod. 3:14.
95. Because Christ prays, "Glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was," or from eternity, to which the phrase is equivalent. John 17:5.
96. Because it is again written, "He is before all things." Col. 1:17.
97. Because we hear Him expressly and repeatedly say of Himself, "I am the first and the last." "And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last; I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen." Rev. 1:17, 18; 2:8. Who but the eternal God would dare to assume the prerogative of being the first and the last? Can any being but God be the first and the last?
98. Because the following language unequivocally designates eternal and immutable existence. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." Heb. 13:8. Who is unchangeable, and forever the same, but the eternal God? Jesus Christ is here pronounced unchangeable; He is therefore God.
99. Because He is expressly declared to be "The everlasting Father" (the Father or possessor of eternity). (Isa. 9:6.)