Start: Introduction to A Zero Fluff Bible Study on the Deity of Christ
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NEWS: I am working on a hard copy version of this study.
Lord willing, it will be available soon on Amazon.
It will be much easier for those who wish to work offline.
UPDATE: The book version is NOW available. Please follow the link below.
A Zero Fluff Bible Study for Women: The Deity of Christ
Lesson 7: The Works of God in Jesus
Welcome to Lesson 7 of A Zero Fluff Bible Study on the deity of Christ. In case you missed them, links to the Introduction and earlier lessons are above.
This lesson begins the third category of verses in our study. Category three contains verses that show the works and attributes of God in Jesus.
The Bible, God’s special revelation to us, tells us many things about Him. For instance, we can read about the awesome works that God alone performs and learn about His unique attributes. For our purposes in our study on the deity of Christ, we can use what the Bible reveals about God to help us determine if Jesus is God. For if Jesus is in fact God, then we would expect the biblical record to show works of God done by Him and attributes of God displayed in Him. We would not have to see all of God’s works and attributes in Jesus, but we would expect to see some.
So did New Testament writers record that Jesus did the works of God and did they write that He had the attributes of God? We shall see! We will look at the works of God in this lesson and look at the attributes of God in Lesson 8. The list of divine works that we will be looking at below is not comprehensive. More could be covered, but it is a good starting place.
Please take a moment to pray and get your Bible. And as always, please take the time to read the verses in context, especially if you are not familiar with them. Your study will be enriched and your discernment will be exercised. Some of the following verses we have seen earlier in our study.
Works of God in Jesus
The work of creation
God as Creator: Read Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 44:24, Psalm 102:25
Jesus as Creator: Read Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:10, John 1:3
One of the most distinctive works of God is creation. That God is the Creator is the first thing we learn about Him when we open to page one of a Bible. (Genesis 1:1) His work in this was unique. He created everything and stretched “out the heavens” by Himself and spread “out the earth all alone”. (Isaiah 44:24)
“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, ‘I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone,’” (Isaiah 44:24)
See also: Psalm 102:25
The work of creation is also attributed to Jesus. This is a clear indication of His divinity.
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)
Do you remember the verse set Hebrews 1:10 and Psalm 102:25 that we covered in Lesson 5? We saw that the work of creation was attributed to Jesus in Hebrews 1:10 which references back to verses about Yahweh in Psalm 102!
See also John 1:3
Preservation
Jesus is also said to hold all things together. This is a display of the power of God.
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)
The work of forgiving sins
God as forgiver of sins: Read Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 43:25
Jesus forgave sins: Read Luke 5:17-26, Luke 7:48
Another distinctive work of God is forgiving sins. (Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 43:25) If you are not God and claimed to do this work, it would amount to blasphemy. Some scribes and Pharisees living at the time of Christ rightly declared as much in Luke 5:21. They said so right after Jesus told a paralyzed man “…Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” (Luke 5:20b)
“The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, ‘Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?'” (Luke 5:21)
Yet, forgiving sins is exactly what Jesus did. (Luke 5:20, Luke 7:48) If He was just a man, claiming to forgive sins would have been blatant sin. Surely a “good, moral teacher” or “prophet” would not behave that way. But Jesus is far more than these things. He is God and can forgive sins. And He backed up His authority to forgive sins with a miracle:
“‘But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’–He said to the paralytic–‘I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.'” (Luke 5:24)
See also Mark 2:1-12
The work of saving
God as Savior: Read Isaiah 43:11, 1 Timothy 2:3, Titus 3:4-5
Jesus as Savior: Read Titus 2:13, Titus 3:6, 2 Peter 1:1
Another clear work of God is the work of salvation. The Bible is clear that God is our Savior.
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,” (1 Timothy 2:3)
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:4-5)
God has even said that there is no savior besides Him. In Lesson 6, we saw that “Savior” is one of “the ONLY’s” that apply to God.
“I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me.” (Isaiah 43:11)
See also: Isaiah 45:21-22, Hosea 13:4
And even though God declared this, salvation is also clearly a work attributed to Jesus! This of course does not surprise us because we have seen over and over again in this study that Jesus is God!
The idea that “Jesus saves” is so prevalent it is common knowledge even amongst unbelievers. This work is associated with Him in the Bible in many verses. Here are just a few: Matthew 1:21, Acts 4:12, Titus 1:4, 2 Peter 1:11, 2 Peter 3:18
Let’s look at a couple of verses together. Let’s return to Titus 3:4-5 that we saw above that speaks about God our Savior. If you looked up these verses in context and read the next verse you would have found this in Titus 3:6: “whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” Notice how the phrases “God our Savior” and “Jesus Christ our Savior” appear so close together in these verses! We cannot miss that Jesus has the same title as God, and it is rightly given.
Speaking of the phrase God our Savior, a similar expression appears in Titus 2:13; but this time it is applied to Jesus! It also appears in 2 Peter 1:1
“looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,” (Titus 2:13)
The work of saving and role of Savior are clearly linked to Jesus. How blessed we are who know Him as God and Savior! My prayer is that you do too.
The work of resurrecting Jesus
God is said to have done the work of resurrecting Jesus: Read Acts 2:24, Acts 10:40
Jesus said He would raise Himself: Read John 2:19-21
The Bible tells us that God did the work of resurrecting Jesus.
“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” (Acts 2:24)
“God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,” (Acts 10:40)
See also: Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:14
The Bible record also shows that Jesus said He would do this work.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” (John 2:19-21)
See also John 10:17
And though we are not on the topic of the Trinity per se, we can see that the Father is said to have raised Jesus. (Romans 6:4, Galatians 1:1) The Holy Spirit is also given credit for this work. (Romans 8:11) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all get credit for this work of God. Confusing? No! This is the Trinity on glorious display! We can see it so clearly in the united performance of this unique historical act, an act that was a pinnacle moment in God’s work in salvation. What hope and joy we have because of the resurrection of our Lord!
Jesus did do the works of God
The Bible record does show that Jesus did do the works of God. It is clear that Jesus is not like us. He is not a finite, created being; for no mere man could do all these things. No, Jesus is wholly unique. He is fully man yes, and He is fully God. We must understand both of these marvelous truths! To Him be the glory. Amen!
Next Up
Next week we will consider the attributes of God that were made manifest in Jesus. Make sure to subscribe to the blog or follow Chapter 3 Ministries on Facebook or Twitter to keep in touch with future lessons.
Update: Lesson 8 is up! A Zero Fluff Bible Study on the Deity of Christ: Lesson 8
Ministering in the spirit of Titus 2:3-5 and encouraging women to contend for the faith.
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