11. The Divinity Of Christ: When Did Jesus Become Divine?
When Did Jesus Become Divine?
I had been asked to address several questions pertaining to Christ and his being divine. When did Christ become divine?
Was Christ divine before his Birth, during his baptism, or at his resurrection, when God resurrected Christ from the dead?
The Divinity Of Christ:
(According to Scripture)
(First, understand these 4 passages)
Rev 1:18 “I am he that liveth (is alive), and was dead (not alive); and, behold (but notice me now), I am alive for evermore (continual… ongoing… never ending… A Divine Nature)…”
Act 13:37 “But he (Jesus), whom God raised again, saw no corruption.”
2Pe 1:4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh (sin) shall of the flesh reap corruption (damnation); but he that soweth to the Spirit (of God) (as did Christ) shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (A Divine Nature).
Was Christ Divine before His Birth?
In the Old Testament, there are no passages that make this claim pertaining to Jesus being divine (In Hebrew the word “divine” (H7080) is not a word used to describe God and it does not mean “godlike,” as it does (G2304) in the two N.T. passages where it is found mentioned (2 Peter 1:3-4)). Any argument about the divinity of Jesus stemming from the Old Testament is baseless and certainly not spoken of in the O.T. scriptures.
Note:
Many assume the words “Divine” and “Deity” are synonymous, but they are not. We can say the angels are Divine, but they are not Deity. Likewise, the partaking of a divine nature depends on our decision to live in obedience to God while we are here on Earth, just as Jesus did.
Was Christ Divine At His Baptism?
Some say Jesus became divine at His baptism (Mat 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32). Apparently, they consider the act of receiving the Holy Ghost as being divine, but this belief is not well taken. It would then stand to reason that everyone who receives the Holy Ghost would also be considered divine.
In order to address these questions fully and correctly, we need to first establish who Jesus actually was and define the word “divine” in contrast to the word “anointed.”
Who Was Jesus?
According to scripture (attached below), Jesus went by three (3) titles, titles BY WHICH “HE” declared himself to be. If we are to declare Jesus to be someone (or something) it should be one of these three titles as stated by Jesus in the BIBLE.
The 3 most common titles were: “Son of God” or “Son of man” or “Man” – Never did Jesus ever call himself God or proclaim himself to be the incarnated body of God himself.
So, if your understanding of the word divine is someone who is proclaiming themselves to be “God Almighty” or any other type of god (God the Son, etc.), then the answer is NO, Jesus was not divine, at least not in that sense.
But if you mean divine as those having a Heavenly nature, those who are able to reside up in Heaven above, such as would apply to God’s angels, God Himself and Jesus (Acts 7:55-56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22), then yes Jesus was (is) both, (a man now with a divine nature) just as what you and I hope to be at His return.
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
I have included a portion of the website ( https://www.theonenessofgod.org/jesus-then-and-now/ ) as follows.
Jesus Christ The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever
( Hebrews 13:8)
Jesus Was: (While On Earth)
| Jesus Is: (While In Heaven) |
Jesus Was a Man (Mark 15:39, John 8:40; Acts 2:22; Romans 5:15) | Jesus Is a Man [Man, in this instance, refers to the human body’s spiritual makeup (i.e., Jesus’ soul, his spirit, or his glorified body) that part of Jesus’ humanity that separates his human spirit from that which is considered to be God (the spirit of man from the spirit of God)] (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:24, 10:12; Acts 17:30-31) (Acts 17:29-31) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he [God] hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Jesus] whom he [God] hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him [Jesus] from the dead.
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Jesus Was “the Son Of Man” (Matthew 8:20; 9:6; 16:13, 27; Mark 10:33; 14:62) | Jesus Is “the Son Of Man” (Acts 7:55-56; Revelation 1:13, 14:14)
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Jesus Was “the Son of God” (Hebrews 1:5) “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” (Matthew 16:16) “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 8:29; 14:33; 27:42-43, 54; Luke 1:35; 3:22; 4:41; 8:28; John 1:34; 1:49; 3:18; 6:69; 10:36; 11:27; 20:31; Acts 8:37; 9:20; Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 1:19; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:13)
| Jesus Is “the Son of God” (Revelation 2:18) “And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass” |
Being Divine Is A Semantic Issue
The word divine (G2304) is found in only 3 passages in the NT (Divine – Heb 9:1, 2Peter 1:3, 1:4)
Attempting to classify someone as being divine is actually more of a semantic issue.
When I speak (or think) of someone who is said to be divine, I tend to think of someone with supernatural abilities given to them by God, which abilities they otherwise would not possess in his/her own power.
But this is probably not the best indication of someone who is said to be divine.
For example:
If we were to apply this criterion alone, then all of the OT Holy Prophets or the Apostles of the NT, could be called divine – in that the miracles they performed were done by the same power of God given them (as was given Jesus) through His Spirit (the Holy Ghost/the Spirit of God) (Ref: Miracles in the Old Testament), (Peter – Acts 3:7, 5:15-16, 9:34, 40) (Paul – Acts 19:11, Mark 6:5, Heb 2:4) (John 14:10-12)
Wonders – ( Acts 2:22– God did by Him, Mark 6:5) (Acts 2:43, 4:30, 5:12, 6:8, 14:3, Rom 15:19, 2Cor 12:12, Heb 2:4, ) Taking note that Jesus, however, was given “all power” Mat 28:18 (G1849 – indicating Jesus had more authority than others, which is the correct way to understand this meaning) in contrast to other humans (Eph 1:22, Heb 2:8, 1 Peter 3:22) but certainly not more authority, or power, than God himself (John 14:10, 28, 1Cor 15:27-28 NIV).
Jesus was First Anointed.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
*Everyone else, therefore, had less ability (limited measure) than Christ.
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand.
Jesus Became Divine After Receiving Eternal Life
We know God is immortal (1 Tim 1:17) therefore to be godlike (divine – G2304) one would also be immortal. Jesus did not truly become divine until God raised him from the DEAD and then he received ENTERAL LIFE!! To an inheritance in heaven that fadeth not away. (Ref. 1Peter 1:3-5)
Revelation 1:18 – “I am he that liveth (continual… ongoing), and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore (from now on).
* (Ref: Who Died Then Was Resurrected From The Dead, God Or Jesus?)
As stated above, when someone actually obtains what is called “eternal life” he or she truly becomes divine, possessing a divine nature (or godlike nature!!!) nonetheless, they do not become God or Almighty, just godlike!
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
*This Page Is Under Construction. We Will Be Back Soon. Thanks
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