Topical Bible: Jesus, the Christ: Divinity of One With the Father

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The divinity of Jesus Christ, as one with the Father, is a central tenet of Christian theology, affirming His nature as both fully God and fully man. This doctrine is rooted in Scripture and has been a cornerstone of orthodox Christian belief throughout the ages.

Biblical Foundation

The Gospel of John provides profound insights into the divine nature of Jesus. John 1:1-3 declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made." This passage identifies Jesus, the Word, as preexistent and co-eternal with God, affirming His divine nature.

Further, John 1:14 states, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." Here, the incarnation of Jesus is presented as the manifestation of God's glory, underscoring His divine origin and mission.

Unity with the Father

Jesus explicitly speaks of His unity with the Father in several passages. In John 10:30 , He declares, "I and the Father are one." This statement emphasizes the intimate and indivisible relationship between Jesus and the Father, a unity that transcends mere agreement or purpose, pointing to an essential oneness in nature and essence.

In John 14:9-10 , Jesus further explains to Philip, "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works." This passage highlights the mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son, a profound mystery that reveals their shared divinity.

Theological Implications

The divinity of Jesus as one with the Father has significant theological implications. It affirms the doctrine of the Trinity, which posits one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This understanding is crucial for comprehending the nature of God and the work of salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul, in Colossians 2:9 , writes, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form." This assertion underscores that Jesus embodies the complete nature of God, not merely a portion or aspect of it. His divine authority is further affirmed in Matthew 28:18 , where Jesus proclaims, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me."

Worship and Acknowledgment

The recognition of Jesus' divinity is evident in the worship He receives. In Revelation 5:12-13 , the heavenly hosts proclaim, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" This worship is directed toward Jesus, acknowledging His divine status and redemptive work.

Moreover, Thomas' declaration in John 20:28 , "My Lord and my God!" upon seeing the resurrected Christ, serves as a personal and profound acknowledgment of Jesus' divine identity. This confession is a testament to the early Christian understanding of Jesus as God incarnate.

Conclusion

The divinity of Jesus Christ as one with the Father is a foundational doctrine that shapes the Christian faith. Through His words, works, and the testimony of Scripture, Jesus is revealed as the eternal Son of God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father, deserving of worship, honor, and obedience.

Nave's Topical Index

John 10:30,38
I and my Father are one.
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John 12:45
And he that sees me sees him that sent me.
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John 14:7-10
If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from now on you know him, and have seen him.
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John 17:10
And all my are yours, and your are mine; and I am glorified in them.
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Library

Jesus Christ the Mediator
... flesh being assumed by the Divinity, not the Divinity being changed ... Christ Jesus,
Son of God, is thus both God and man ... as he is God, he and the Father are one. ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter x jesus christ the.htm

Concerning Christ's Two Natures, in Opposition to those who Hold ...
... And thus in the case of our Lord Jesus Christ we cannot speak of one nature
made up of divinity and humanity, as we do in the case of the ...
/.../exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter iii concerning christs two natures.htm

Jesus, Son of God.
... not even by implication affirm His Divinity, it remains ... question whether the work
on which Christ was sent ... Jesus though nothing more than human might have said ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xxii jesus son of god.htm

Proofs from the Apostolic Writings, that Jesus Christ was one and ...
... the passage: "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come ... those who
wished to separate the humanity of Christ from His divinity, and that ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xvi proofs from the apostolic.htm

He Brings Forward the Witness of God the Father to the Divinity of ...
... What then does the Evangelist say of the Lord Jesus Christ? ... of which most clearly
show that Christ is God ... Holy Spirit upon Him supports His Divinity, and the ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xvi he brings forward.htm

Abbott -- the Divinity in Humanity
... The context and argument is this: Jesus Christ has declared ... thyself equal with God."
And Christ answers with ... Me of blasphemy because I claim divinity?" It is ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/abbott the divinity in.htm

Argument. --In Fine, Notwithstanding the Said Heretics have ...
... a mediator of one, but God is one." [5289] But ... means to reject those marks of Christ's
divinity which are ... since it is most faithful that Jesus Christ the Son ...
/.../chapter xxx argument in fine notwithstanding.htm

Joy and Faith, the Fruits of Christ's Departure
... the creed which confesses the unity of the Godhead and the divinity of Jesus Christ
is not ... greater than the Son, as it declares that the Son is One with the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/joy and faith the fruits.htm

And Indeed that Christ was not Only Man, but God Also; that Even ...
... the fact of asserting that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son ... maintain, by the association
of the divinity of the ... Nor, because they maintain one thing in Christ and ...
/.../chapter xi and indeed that christ.htm

Now the Person in Each Declares the Independent Being and ...
... divinity, and speaks of the Son as one in respect of lordship: "There is one God
the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, ...
/.../section viii now the person.htm