1. ©Copyright Harold C. Felder

2. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Why is it Important? ► The Integrity of Scripture ► The Integrity of Jesus ► Our Salvation

3. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Roadmap ► Jesus Claimed to be God ► Jesus’ Apostles Acknowledged that He is God ► Proof that Jesus is God ► Objections to the Deity of Jesus

4. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Roadmap ► Jesus Claimed to be God ► Jesus’ Apostles Acknowledged that He is God ► Proof that Jesus is God ► Objections to the Deity of Jesus

5. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Jesus Claimed to be God ► Jesus claimed the titles of God  God’s Glory  “First and the Last”  “I AM” “This is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God” (Isa. 44:6) “I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” (Rev. 1:17- 18) “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Ex. 3:14) “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (Jn. 8:58) “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols” (Isa. 42:8) “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (Jn. 17:5)

6. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Jesus Claimed to be God ► Jesus claimed to be Equal with God  Power to forgive sins  Power to raise the dead  Should be honored as the Father  One with the Father “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’” (Mark 2:5) “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it” (Jn. 5:21) “that all may Honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (Jn. 5:23) “‘I and the Father are one.’ Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’ ‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God’” (Jn. 10:30-33) “‘I and the Father are one.’ Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’ ‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God’” (Jn. 10:30-33)

7. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Jesus Claimed to be God ► Requested Prayer in His Name  Stephen prayed directly to Jesus “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (Jn. 15:7) “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (Jn. 16:23) “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’” (Acts 7:59)

8. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Jesus Claimed to be God ► Accepted Worship  After stilling the storm  Healing the man born blind  At the ascension “Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’” (Matt. 14:33) “Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him” (Jn. 9:38) “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Lk. 24:51-52)

9. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Jesus Claimed to be God ► Put His Words on Par with God “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:18- 19) “A new commandment I give you: Love one another” (Jn. 13:34) “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35)

10. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder His Apostles Claimed Jesus is God ► The Disciples called Jesus God “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (Jn. 20:28) “Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen” (Rom. 9:5) “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; without him nothing was made that has been made” (Jn. 1:1-3) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:15-17)

11. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder His Apostles Claimed Jesus is God ► They Compared the Glory of God to Jesus’ “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory’” (Isa. 6:1-3) “Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him” (Jn. 12:41)

12. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Roadmap ► Jesus Directly Claimed to be God ► Jesus Indirectly Claimed to be God ► Jesus’ Apostles Acknowledged that He is God ► Proof that Jesus is God ► Objections to the Deity of Jesus

13. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Proof that Jesus is God ► The Old Testament Teaches that the Messiah will be God “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will becalled Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6) “The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” (Ps.110:1) “The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” (Ps.110:1) “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom” (Ps. 45:6) “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom” (Ps. 45:6) “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14) “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14)

14. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Proof that Jesus is God ► Jesus Claimed to be the Messiah  On trial before the High Priest  Woman at the well ► Jesus fulfilled Numerous Messianic Prophecies “Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more witnesses?’ he asked. ‘You have heard the blasphemy’” (Mark 14:61-64) “The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah’ (called Christ) ‘is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I who speak to you am he.’” (Jn. 4:25-26) “The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah’ (called Christ) ‘is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I who speak to you am he.’” (Jn. 4:25-26)

15. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Ethnic Group Abraham, Gen 12:1 Tribe Judah, Gen 49:10 Dynasty David, 2 Sam 7:12 How Virgin, Isa 7:14 Where Bethlehem, Mic 5:2 When 33 A.D., Dan 9:24

16. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Proof that Jesus is God  The Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy lists 191 prophecies literally fulfilled in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection  The probability of sixteen predictions being fulfilled in one man has been calculated at 1 in 1045.

17. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Roadmap ► Jesus Directly Claimed to be God ► Jesus Indirectly Claimed to be God ► Jesus’ Apostles Acknowledged that He is God ► Proof that Jesus is God ► Objections to the Deity of Jesus

18. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Objections ► Jesus rebuked the rich young ruler for calling Him good  Response: Jesus was asking the young ruler to realize that by calling Him good, hewas calling Him God “Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good’” (Mt. 19:16- 17) “Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good’” (Mt. 19:16- 17)

19. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Objections ► Jesus thought that He was less than God  Response: The Father is greater than the Son by office, but not by nature, since both are God “’You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I” (Jn. 14:28) “’You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I” (Jn. 14:28)

20. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Objections ► Jesus was ignorant of the time of His second coming  Response: As God Jesus was omniscient but as man He was limited in His knowledge “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mk. 13:32) “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mk. 13:32)

21. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Objections ► Paul seems to imply that Jesus “emptied Himself” of His deity or “equality with God” becoming “a man”  Responses ► Jesus did not cease being God while on earth. Rather, in addition to being God, He also became man ► His incarnation was not the subtraction of deity, but the addition of humanity ► The text does not say Christ gave up or emptied Himself of His deity, but merely of His rights as deity “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Phil. 2:5-7) “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Phil. 2:5-7)

22. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Objections ► If Christ is only the firstborn in creation, then how can He be God?  Responses: ► Firstborn means preeminence in authority  God refers to Israel as His firstborn nation  God refers to David as His firstborn king on the earth ► The reference to “firstborn” does not mean He is the firstborn in creation, but the firstborn over creation “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col. 1:18) “Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son” (Ex. 4:22) “I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth” (Ps. 89:27)

23. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Objections ► “Son of God” does not mean God  Response: “Son of” means sameness in nature “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind” (Num. 23:19) “By the word of the Lord one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, ‘Strike me with your weapon,’ but the man refused” (1 Kings 20:25) “James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of thunder)” (Mk. 3:17)

24. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Importance ► We can trust what Jesus said “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16) “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (Jn. 14:2-4) “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (jn. 14:6)

25. www.GivingAnAnswer.org ©Copyright Harold C. Felder The End