DIVINITY OF CHRIST part 4
The writings of Paul (Rom 9:5; Tit 2:13; Col 2:9-10; Col 1:15-17; Phil 2:5-11)
Part 4 of the sermon series, Divinity of Christ.
The first three sermons in this series established that Jesus Christ is God based on the writings of John. Cited passages came from John’s Gospel, the epistles, and Revelation. The fourth sermon will focus on the writings of Paul. The theme is the same: the divinity of Christ. Like John, Paul believed in the divinity of Christ and that He is the creator and sustainer of all things. Paul stated that Christ is the creator. Thus, before creation, He already existed.
Jesus: Our Great God
In his epistles, Paul declares that Christ is God. In Romans, he wrote that Christ is God over all. In Titus, he describes Christ as the great God and Savior. In Colossians, Paul explains that in Christ is the fullness of deity and that He is the head who rules over all. There is clear consistency in Paul's writing on the deity of Christ.[1]
Romans 9:5: To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Titus 2:13: waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:9-10: For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
Ever since his Damascus road experience, the apostle held a high view of Jesus Christ.[2] He kept declaring Him to be the Messiah and the incarnate God. A former persecutor of the church bowed down to Christ. Paul’s deep realization led him to tirelessly preach and teach about Christ as Savior and God. Despite the suffering, He persisted.
Gems in the text
1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Messiah, but aside from that, He is God over all.
2. The apostle addresses Christ as the great God and Savior.
3. Christ is the fullness of God in bodily form. He is fully God and fully man. Christ is the head of all and possesses all authority.
Supreme Creator and Sustainer
Paul wrote to the Colossians about Christ being the image of the invisible God.[3] He is also the firstborn of all creation, which denotes supremacy and preeminence, rather than chronological birth order. The context does not support the idea that He is the first created being. Everything was created by Christ. Thus, He cannot be a created being.
Colossians 1:15-17: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Some have misunderstood the meaning of "firstborn." They assume Christ was the first created. This cannot be true because Christ created all things, including the invisible realm. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are eternal. They are uncreated.
David was not the eldest among Jesse's sons; he was the youngest. However, Psalm 89:27 describes David as the firstborn: “And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” The usage of firstborn in Psalm 89:27 and Colossians 1:15 is the same. It means preeminence, highest rank.
Christ is the creator of all things; He is before all things. Moreover, He holds all things together in the universe. Paul explains that Christ is supremely powerful, exalted above all. One of His ongoing works is to sustain the universe. He holds together every atom by His sovereign power.
Gems in the text
1. Christ is the image of the invisible God. He is the exact representation of the Father.[4]
2. Christ is the firstborn of all creation. This means that He is preeminent in rank, not the first created.
3. The Son created all things: visible and invisible. But He is uncreated, preexistent. Moreover, He sustains all things. Christ holds the universe together by His power.
Fully God and Fully Man
Christ was in the form of God, which reveals His preexistence and divinity. But Christ emptied Himself by laying aside the privileges in heaven and adding humanity to Himself. Paul explained that Jesus Christ was given a name above every name, meaning He is equal with God the Father. Moreover, all knees will bow, which signifies worship, and worship is only given to God. There is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:5-11: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Some advocated that the meaning of “emptied himself” is that Christ gave up some of His divine attributes while He was on earth. This is known as the “kenosis theory.” However, the term “emptied” is reflected as “humbled” in the immediate context. Paul was instructing the Philippians to humble themselves like Christ.
The context also states that Christ took the form of a servant, which means that He humbled Himself. According to Grudem, “the emptying includes a change of role and status, not essential attributes or nature.”[5] Grudem further explains that the best understanding is that Jesus gave up status and privilege in heaven.[6]
Gems in the text
1. The text reveals the incarnation, the preexistence of the Christ, and that He added humanity to His divinity.
2. The emptying is not a loss of divinity, but it means humility. The context reveals Christ taking on the responsibility of a servant, obeying until death.
3. Christ’s exaltation reveals His divine identity as God. He received recognition and worship that is only attributed to YHWH.
Application
1. Believe in the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Proclaim the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Defend the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notes
[1] Thomas R. Schreiner, Romans 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018), 478.
[2] Ac 9:1-19; 22:6-16; 26:12-18.
[3] Heb 1:3.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 685–686.
[6] Ibid.
Bibliography
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020.
Schreiner, Thomas R. Romans. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018.
Poem
GOD AND SAVIOR by Ed Pilapil Jr. Jesus Christ: great God and Savior Moreover, divine Creator The firstborn of all creation The highest in exaltation Clothed Himself in humility Mission fulfilled triumphantly Shared in the Father’s essence We’re blessed with their divine presence Don’t turn from His divine presence The Triune God: one in essence Fulfilled their plan triumphantly Clothe ourselves with humility Let’s proclaim His exaltation Jesus sustains all creation The Triune God, the Creator Worship our great God and Savior
Study Guide
1. How does Paul describe Christ in the cited passages?
2. What does firstborn mean in this context?
3. Knowing the humbling and exaltation of Jesus, how should we conduct ourselves?
An expanded study guide is in the attached manuscript.
Manuscripts in English and Tagalog
