Topical Bible: Christ is God: As the Lord from Heaven

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The doctrine of Christ as God, specifically as the "Lord from Heaven," is a central tenet of Christian theology, affirming the divinity of Jesus Christ and His pre-existence before His incarnation. This belief is rooted in various scriptural passages that highlight His heavenly origin and divine nature.

Heavenly Origin and Pre-existence

The apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, explicitly refers to Jesus as the "Lord from Heaven." In 1 Corinthians 15:47 , Paul contrasts the first man, Adam, with Christ, stating, "The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven." This passage underscores the belief that while Adam was created from the earth, Christ's origin is heavenly, affirming His divine nature and pre-existence.

Divine Nature and Authority

The Gospel of John provides profound insights into the divine nature of Christ. John 1:1-2 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." This passage identifies Jesus as the "Word" (Logos), who was not only with God but was God Himself, emphasizing His eternal existence and divine essence.

Furthermore, John 3:13 states, "No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man." Here, Jesus speaks of His unique authority and origin, having descended from heaven, thus reinforcing His identity as the divine Son of God.

Heavenly Mission and Revelation

Christ's mission on earth is portrayed as a divine initiative, originating from heaven. In John 6:38 , Jesus declares, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." This statement highlights His obedience to the Father and His heavenly mission to bring salvation to humanity.

Additionally, Jesus' role as the revealer of God is emphasized in John 14:9 , where He tells Philip, "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father." This assertion affirms that in seeing Christ, one encounters the fullness of God, as He perfectly reveals the Father to the world.

Worship and Acknowledgment as God

The New Testament records instances where Jesus is worshiped and acknowledged as God, further affirming His divine status. In Matthew 28:9 , after His resurrection, Jesus meets the women and they "clasped His feet and worshiped Him." Such acts of worship, reserved for God alone, indicate the early Christian recognition of Jesus' divinity.

Moreover, Thomas' declaration in John 20:28 , "My Lord and my God!" upon seeing the risen Christ, serves as a powerful acknowledgment of Jesus' divine identity. This confession encapsulates the belief that Jesus is indeed the Lord from Heaven, worthy of worship and adoration.

Conclusion

The scriptural testimony to Christ as the Lord from Heaven is foundational to understanding His divine nature and mission. Through His heavenly origin, divine authority, and the worship He receives, the New Testament affirms that Jesus is truly God, sent from heaven to reveal the Father and accomplish the work of salvation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 15:47
The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

God in Christ
... declared of him"as The Living, Working Lord, to whom ... from the beginning of the world
in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.' * * * That, in ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon i god in christ.htm

Fragment i. I Give Thanks to Almighty God and Our Lord Jesus ...
... I give thanks to Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ, who has ... the works of Christians
are shining even in sight of the unbelieving, and God your Father ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/theonas/epistle of phileas/fragment i i give thanks.htm

A Babe in Christ.
... O Lord God, and merciful Father, take pity on me, thy child. ... And, O Lord, I pray
thee to help me to bear up under my afflictions for Christ's sake. ...
/.../wesley/stories of boys and girls who loved the saviour/a babe in christ.htm

A Divine Saviour.
... is of the earth earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven ... John 5:20: "We know
that the Son of God is come ... in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter v a divine saviour.htm

Prayer Incidents in the Life of Our Lord
... Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven ... image
of His person." And so the spirit of prayer with Christ was to do God's will ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/viii prayer incidents in the.htm

The Person and Work of the Substitute
... has so fully satisfied the holy Lord God of earth and heaven? If this will not avail,
then he can expect no more. If this is not enough, then Christ has died ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter vi the person and.htm

The Man Christ Jesus
... things in heaven; as by-and-by every knee shall bow of things on earth, and things
that are under the earth, for Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/the man christ jesus.htm

Fowler -- the Spirit of Christ
... deep-down conviction of the people of God that the Lord God of Heaven wants this ...
a religion that is based upon the supernatural life of the divine Christ. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/fowler the spirit of.htm

The Hymns of Martin Luther
... Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh' darein. Look down, O Lord, from Heaven behold. III. ... By
help of God I fain would tell. VI. ... Now praise we Christ, the Holy One. VIII. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacon/the hymns of martin luther/

An Exhortation to Love God
... 9:3). Not that he could be accursed from Christ; but such ... arrive at: and behold how
near he lay to God's heart ... The Lord takes him up to heaven a while, and lays ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/an exhortation to love god.htm