I Was Always Fully God Lesson 4

Note: The Bible by Jesus will be used throughout this lesson unless otherwise noted after each Bible reference.

A. SIX CLAIMS AGAINST MY DEITY

1. They claimed I was just an ordinary man, not God. “Is He not the carpenter’s son? Where did He get all this knowledge? And they were offended because of Me” (Matt. 13:55-57).

2. They said I made mistakes. “Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man they planned to accuse him” (Luke 6:7, NLT).

3. They said I tricked (perverted) the people. Pilate said, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people” (Luke 22:14, RSV).

4. They said I was an imposter. The Jews demanded, “By our law he ought to die because He called himself the Son of God” (John 19:7, NLT).

5. They said I was not virgin born, the Jews said sarcastically. “We were not born out of wedlock suggesting I didn’t have a father.” But an angel said to Joseph, “Mary . . . has conceived a son through the Holy Spirit . . . Joseph had no physical relations with her until she had given birth to Me” (Matt. 1:23-25).

6. They said I had sinned. “We know this man is a sinner” (John 9:24, NLT). Jesus answered, “None of you can point out any sin that I have ever done” (John 8:46). Pilate said, “I find Him not guilty” (John 19:6, NLT). “Christ who never sinned” (2 Cor. 5:21, NLT). “He never sinned” (1 Peter 2:21, NLT).

B. SEVEN CLAIMS OF DEITY BY JESUS

1. I Am Creator. “I Am God, and without Me nothing was created” (John 1:1-2). “I have all life in Myself and give life to all My creation” (John 1:4).

2. I know what people think. “But I did not entrust Myself to them because I know what was in their hearts” (John 2:25). I knew their thoughts” (Mark 2:8).

3. I am eternal. Eternal means without beginning and without end. “I am God the Son, who is from the beginning” (John 1:1). “I am eternal life who was manifest to you” (1 John 1:1).

4. I am sinless. “None of you can point out any sin that I have ever done” (John 8:46).

5. I came back from the dead. Jesus predicted, “I told My disciples that I must go to Jerusalem . . . be killed . . . but I would rise from the dead on the third day” (Matt. 16:21). Jesus taught His disciples, “The scriptures say that Christ would suffer for sins, and rise from the dead on the third day” (Luke 24:46).

6. I am equal with the Father in nature, power and authority. The Trinity means Jesus is equal in nature with the Father, but separate in person, and submission in duties.

a. Nature. “The Jewish leaders sought to kill Me because I said I was just like the Father . . . and I said, ‘The Father and Son are equal in nature’” (John 5:7-18).

b. Power. “I say to you, I do nothing by Myself. But when I see the things God the Father does, I do the same things. God the Father and God the Son are equal in power” (John 5:19).

c. Authority. “The Father will do greater miracles through healing the lame, so you will marvel. As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, so I the Son of God will also raise the dead. The Father and Son are equal in authority” (John 5:20-21).

7. I am law, power and life (all three and interactive).

a. Life. Law is an extension of the person and energy of God and is the power by which He controls His universe. “I made all things that can be seen and things that can’t be seen . . . I created everything for Me and through Me . . . and I hold all things together” (Col. 1:16-17).

b. Power is the omnipotence of God, I can do all things actual and possible. “I made all things possible” (Matt. 19:26). “I hold all things together by the word of My power” (Heb. 1:3).

c. Life is existence, energy and force or function. “The Father has life in Himself, and I also have it, and give it to those who believe in Me” (John 5:24). The words I speak unto you, they are Spirit and they are life” (John 6:63).

C. I HAVE THE ABSOLUTE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

1. HOLINESS. “I the Lord your God, Am holy” (Lev. 19:2). Holiness is My perfection seen in My moral nature. I did not decide to be holy, and can’t decide to not be holy. Holiness is My nature.

2. LOVE. Love is My perfection seen in giving Myself. Love is giving (John 15:13). “Here is love, not that you love God, but the Father sends Me His only begotten Son to give Myself to be the propitiation (satisfaction) for your sin” (1 John 4:10).