“AND WHEN ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS OLD AND NINE, THE LORD APPEARED TO ABRAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, I AM THE ALMIGHTY GOD, WALK BEFORE ME, AND BE THOU PERFECT.” GENESIS 17:1.

WHEN GOD APPEARED TO MOSES, GOD SAID TO MOSES: “AND I APPEARED UNTO ABRAHAM, UNTO ISAAC, AND UNTO JACOB, BY THE NAME OF GOD ALMIGHTY, BUT BY MY NAME JEHOVAH WAS I NOT KNOWN TO THEM.” EXODUS 6:3.

“AND GOD SAID UNTO MOSES, I AM THAT I AM: AND HE SAID, THUS SHALT THOU SAY UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, I AM HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU:” EXODUS 3:14.

More than 400 years after God appeared to Abraham as “God Almighty,” He appeared to Moses as “JEHOVAH, the I AM.”

Now note the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation 1:8: “I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Note again the words of Christ in John 8:24 and 8:58 and 59:

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” “Jesus saith unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

Most interesting and significant. statements. They should be studied with John 10:30 to 33. In those verses we learn that the Jews sought to kill Jesus, because He said, “I and Father are one.”

Jesus Christ, the Man, was accused of making Himself God. He called Himself, the I AM. He said, “if ye believe not that I AM, ye shall die in your sins.” Then how are we to be saved from our sins? “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9.

Note also I John 5:5—“Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Note again the consequences and penalty of denying the Deity of Jesus Christ.

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because be believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” I John 5:10 to 12.

There have been many arguments “pro” and “con” as to whether the Jehovah of the Old Testament was the Christ of the Four Gospels. We are sure that Christ was God manifest in the flesh. John 1:14, John 14:9 and John 20:28.

THE DEITY OF CHRIST

“IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.” “HE WAS IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM, AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT.” John 1:1— John 1:10 and John 1:14.

“But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.” Hebrews 1:8.

“And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and My God.” John 20:28.

“In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him; And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:14 to 17.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Philippians 2:5 and 6. “And now, O Father, glorify thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” John 17:5 and 14:9.

“Which none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” I Corinthians 2:8.

Speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ John wrote, “that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us!” I John 1:2.

Then again in I John 5:20, “We know that the Son of God is come. This is the true God and eternal life.”

JESUS CHRIST – THE I AM

I AM the Bread of Life. John 6:35.

I AM the Light of the World. John 8:12.

I AM the Messiah. John 4:26.

I AM the Door. John 10:9.

I AM the Good Shepherd. John 10:14.

I AM the True Vine. John 15:1.

I AM the Resurrection. John 11:25.

I AM the Way. John 14:6.

I AM the Truth. John 14:6.

I AM the Life. John 14:6.

“Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I AM, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.” John 8:28.

“ I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the “I AM” more than twenty times in the Gospel of John.

Thus we see that the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ was God before He became flesh. He was in the form of God and in the bosom of the Father. John 1:18. We also see that the Bible clearly teaches that faith in the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ is essential for salvation.

Note Christ’s own words in John 5:22 and 23: “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.”

Again John 6:47: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”

Again Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The one and only way to God, salvation, heaven and eternal life, is Jesus Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” I Peter 1:18 to 20.

“And without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22.

“To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:6 and 7.

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13.

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” II John 9.

The Lord Jesus Christ is “the Second Man from heaven”; “the Lord of Glory” and “the Prince of Life.” I Corinthians 15:47— I Corinthians 2:7 and 8 and Acts 3:15.

GOD AND CHRIST IN SALVATION

“And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” II Corinthians 5:18 to 20.

“For, God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but hath everlasting life.” God gave His Son. God spared not His own Son, but offered Him up for us all. John 3:15—Romans 8:32.

“For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” I Timothy 1:15.

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus: Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” I Timothy 2:4 to 6.

“But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Hebrews 2:9.

“`For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” I Peter 3:18.

Why should any person be ignorant of God’s way to God’s heaven? It is clearly, simply, and dogmatically stated in God’s Book. “Ye which were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13.

THE RESURRECTED CHRIST AND SALVATION

“Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.

“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12.

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12.

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.” Acts 2:23 and 24.

“And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre. But God raised Him from the dead.” Acts 13:29 and 30.

“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, Which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:19 to 23.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1 to 3.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” I John 2:1.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1 to 3.

The same wonderful, supernatural story is woven into every part of the Divine message, from Matthew to Revelation:

1. The incarnation of God in Christ for the specific purpose of dying for sinners.

2. The sinless perfect life of the God-man, Christ.

3. His supernatural miracles to prove His eternal Deity, His unity, and equality with God the Father.

4. His once-for-all sacrifice in fulfillment of prophecy and God’s foreordained redemption for sinners.

5. His triumphant bodily resurrection and ascension into the highest heavens.

6. His work of intercession, forgiveness, keeping, cleansing, for saints as He appears in heaven itself, in the presence of God, as the believer’s Advocate. Hebrews 9:24.

7. The promise that He will come for His redeemed ones and take them in glorified bodies to see and share His glory.

God was with Christ on earth. Acts 10:38. God was in Christ. II Corinthians 5:19. Christ was with God before He became a man. John 1:1 to 3. Christ was in the form of God. Philippians 2:6. Christ was God.

The Holy Spirit caused Isaiah to write concerning the Virgin’s Son. Emmanuel, meaning God with us. Isaiah 7:14. Christ was Emmanuel. Matthew 1:23. Mary, the Virgin was a Jew. So Emmanuel was Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth was a Jew. He worshipped as a Jew. Luke 4:16. He said, “We know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.” John 4:22.Do not forget those solemn words of the Lord Jesus, “if ye believe not that I AM, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24.

For more articles by Pastor J. C. O'Hair, visit the J. C. O'Hair Online Library.