We Believe in the Deity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (CSB)

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His personal return in power and glory.

The deity of Jesus Christ serves as the foundational pillar upon which all Christian doctrine and experience stand.  If it is not true, the entire system of Christian faith collapses. The gospel message of redemption stands or falls with the truth that Jesus is truly God.

The deity of Christ is the basis of our worship and devotion. The Son of God took on humanity in the person of Jesus. Jesus is truly the God-man, and, therefore, it is proper and appropriate for believing human beings to worship him. Every person who has been saved and has the assurance of fellowship with Christ is by the nature of the experience compelled to give the Redeemer the highest place and bow before him and worship.

Reconciliation between sinful humanity and a holy God becomes impossible unless the one mediating that reconciliation is fully divine. This is not just a theoretical doctrine; it is a practical reality. Trusting Christ for salvation depends fundamentally on believing in his true deity; without this conviction, committing ourselves to him amounts to placing confidence in something merely human, which brings a curse rather than a blessing.

It Took a Miracle

The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God…For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:35,37 (CSB)

The birth of Jesus to a virgin is a miracle that many people find difficult to believe. A primary stumbling block for people is that the virgin birth contradicts their perception of natural human reproduction.

According to recent surveys, 73% of professing Christians believe that Jesus Christ was born to a virgin. However, it is troubling that, of students preparing for ministry in Protestant seminaries, 56% reject the idea of the virgin birth. What does this mean for the future?

The birth of Jesus to a virgin is a miracle that many people find difficult to believe. There was no historical precedent for the virgin birth of Jesus. The conflict reflects a resistance to Christianity’s supernatural character rather than genuine historical problems with the doctrine itself.

The personal union of God and man in Jesus took place through the Holy Spirit’s generating power in the virginal conception and birth. The miracle of his birth demonstrates that Jesus is God’s son not by adoption, but by nature. The virgin birth also affirms Jesus’ true humanity. He was born of a woman; therefore, he was fully human, liable to all the temptations of a fallen race.

Christ’s deity and his virgin birth are inseparable. Affirming the virgin birth necessarily connects to the doctrine of Christ’s deity, while accepting his sinless life establishes that when he died, he died not for his own sins but for the sins of others. It is the great truth of the Atonement and vicarious sacrifice.

More Than a Doctrine

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11–13 (CSB)

The doctrine of the deity of Christ requires more from us than mere mental assent. It is one thing to believe something in theory, but the deity of Christ must inform every activity and action, along with every hope and thought.

It is inconceivable that someone could deny the deity of Christ, but still cling to the blessed hope, his appearing and second coming. When we believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, that he lived a sinless life, that he was crucified on the cross, was raised again on the third day by the power of God, that he ascended to the Father, how could we not look forward to his appearing with great hope and expectation?

The deity of Christ is more than a doctrine. We have the promise of spending eternity with him. Therefore, we can willingly deny godlessness and worldly lusts. It may be a challenge, but we can desire to live sensibly and righteously, and godly in this present age. We have hope, and we have placed our confidence in the one who humbled himself and became a man. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9–11 (NIV)

It Is Time to Worship

When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10–11 (CSB)

We do not know with certainty how much the wise men understood about the deity of Christ or the atoning sacrifice that he would make on the cross, and yet they fell to their knees and worshiped him.

The proper response for us, believing in his divine nature and the promise of his return to establish his throne and his kingdom here on earth, is to fall on our knees and worship him. He is our hope, our Redeemer, our Savior, and our Lord. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ.

Steve Ekeroth