Questions on the Deity of Christ

The Historic Struggle Over Jesus

• Docetism – Jesus was an apparition.

• Gnosticism – Jesus could not be physical because matter is evil.

• Arianism – Jesus became God

• Modalism – Jesus is becoming God

• Nestorianism – Jesus and God are two separate people.

“who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6–8, ESV) 

Is Jesus God or is he man is best summarized in a doctrine called the hypostatic union. Jesus is both God and Man.

Contemporary Struggles with Jesus

While many historic heresies still exist in several cults, the more insidious issues lie in mainline thinking

• Jesus is god – in that it makes me feel a part of a historic experience and expression of worship

• Jesus is god – in that it reminds me of what human goodness can achieve in its most positive expression

• If humanism (man is the measure of all things) is the highest definition of good, then there is no room for a god who would be greater than the best human experience.

““Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:23, ESV)

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Hebrews 1:1–2, ESV)

Questions:

. What does the word “god” mean to you? How does Jesus help you to define that word?

2. How does Jesus excel above your understanding of the human experience?

3. How would you share Jesus “God-ness” with others?