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THE DEITY OF CHRIST — LECTURE 16

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The Deity of Christ in Early Church Proclamation (Acts)

THE DEITY OF CHRIST — LECTURE 16

Introduction: The First Preaching of the Gospel

After the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the apostles began preaching.

This is recorded in the book of Acts.

These are not later developments
These are the earliest proclamations of the church

Therefore, a critical question:

What did the apostles preach about Jesus from the very beginning?

Did they present Him as:

  • merely a man?
  • a prophet?
  • a created being?

Or something more?

 

The answer is clear:

They proclaimed Christ with divine authority, identity, and titles belonging to God

THESIS: The Deity of Christ Was Part of the Original Gospel Message

I. Acts 2 — Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost

Acts 2:36
“God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord and Christ.”

 

A. “Lord” (Κύριος — Kyrios)

This term is used in the Old Testament (LXX) for:

YHWH (the LORD)

 

B. Exaltation to Divine Authority

Peter is not saying:

  • Jesus became God

But that He is:
recognized and declared as Lord

 

C. “Hath Made” (Acts 2:36) — Grammar Refutes the “Jesus is Only Man” Claim

Acts 2:36 says:

“…God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord and Christ.”

Some claim this means Jesus was only a man and later became Lord. That is incorrect—both grammatically and contextually.

The phrase “hath made” comes from ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen):

  • Aorist Active Indicative, 3rd Person Singular
  • From ποιέω (poieō)

This verb does not always mean “to create” or “to cause to begin.”
It frequently means:

to appoint, declare, establish, or publicly constitute

 

The Context Decides the Meaning

Peter is preaching:

  • after the resurrection
  • after the ascension

This is not about Jesus becoming something He was not.

This is about God declaring and manifesting who He already is.

 

Scripture Cannot Contradict Scripture

If Acts 2:36 meant Jesus only became Lord:

  • John 1:1 would be false (“the Word was God”)
  • John 8:58 would be false (“I am”)
  • Jesus receiving worship would be wrong
  • His authority before Acts 2 would be denied

 

The Correct Understanding

Acts 2:36 means:

God has publicly established, vindicated, and declared Jesus as
Lord and Christ before all.

Not created into Lord,
but revealed as Lord.

 

Conclusion of the Grammar

The “Jesus is only man” argument fails because:

  1. ποιέω does not require “created into being”
  2. The context is exaltation, not origin
  3. The whole Bible already declares His Deity

 

Final blow:

Acts 2:36 does not lower Christ to a man—
it proclaims the crucified Jesus as the Lord.

 

Conclusion

The earliest sermon presents Jesus as:
Lord — a divine title

 

II. Acts 3 — The “Prince of Life”

Acts 3:15
“And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead…”

 

A. “Prince of Life”

From : ἀρχηγός = archēgos = a chief leader: - author, captain, prince.

Meaning:

  • author
  • originator
  • source

 

Life originates from Him

But Scripture teaches:

Only God is the source of life

 

Conclusion

Christ is presented as:
the source of life—an attribute of God

 

III. Acts 7 — Stephen’s Vision

Acts 7:59
“…calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

 

A. Direct Invocation

Stephen prays:

Not to the Father
But to Jesus

 

B. Parallel with God

Compare:

Luke 23:46 — Jesus said, “Father… into thy hands I commend my spirit”

Stephen now says:

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”

 

Conclusion

Stephen treats Jesus as:
the one who receives the spirit—divine authority

 

IV. Acts 9 — Paul’s Conversion

Acts 9:5
“…I am Jesus whom thou persecutest…”

 

A. Identity of Christ

Paul thought he was persecuting:

  • followers

But Jesus says:

“you are persecuting Me”

 

B. Implication

Christ is identified with His people
His authority is supreme

 

C. Response of Paul

Paul immediately acknowledges Him as:

“Lord”

 

V. Acts 20:28 — The Blood of God

“…the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

 

A. Direct Statement

“God… with His own blood”

 

Conclusion

The one who shed blood:

is identified as God

 

VI. Titles Given to Christ in Acts

Throughout Acts, Christ is called:

  • Lord (Acts 2:36)
  • Prince of Life (Acts 3:15)
  • Judge (Acts 10:42)
  • Savior (Acts 5:31)

 

Observation

These are not minor titles

These are roles belonging to God

 

VII. CENI — Establishing the Doctrine

Command (Direct Statements)

  • Acts 20:28 — God’s blood
  • Acts 2:36 — Lord

 

Example

  • Stephen prays to Jesus
  • Apostles preach His authority

 

Necessary Inference

If:

  • Christ is called Lord (divine title)
  • Christ receives prayer
  • Christ is source of life

Then:

Christ is God

 

VIII. Apologetic — Answering Historical Objections

❌   “The Deity of Christ developed later”

Refuted by:

Acts = earliest preaching

Already includes:

  • divine titles
  • divine functions
  • divine authority

 

❌   “Early church saw Jesus as only human”

Refuted by:

  • Prayer to Christ
  • Titles of deity
  • Divine authority

 

IX. Polemic — Refuting Modern Claims

❌   “Doctrine of Christ’s Deity was invented later”

False because:

It is present in:

  • Acts sermons
  • earliest preaching

 

❌   “Apostles did not teach this clearly”

False because:

They:

  • called Him Lord
  • prayed to Him
  • attributed divine works

 

X. The Consistency of the Gospel Message

From the beginning:

  • Christ is Lord
  • Christ is Savior
  • Christ is divine

 

No evolution
No development

Only consistent proclamation

 

Conclusion: The Original Gospel Includes His Deity

The book of Acts shows:

  • The apostles preached Christ as Lord
  • They attributed divine authority to Him
  • They prayed to Him
  • They declared His divine work

 

Therefore:

The Deity of Christ is not a later doctrine—it is part of the original proclamation of the Gospel.

 

Final Statement:

From the very beginning, the apostles preached Jesus not merely as man, but as Lord, Savior, and the divine source of life—confirming His Deity as foundational to the Gospel itself.

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Ang Pagka-Dios ni Cristo sa Unang Pangangaral ng Iglesia (Mga Gawa)

ANG PAGKA-DIYOS NI CRISTO — ARALIN 16

Panimula: Ano ang Unang Ipinangaral ng mga Apostol?

Pagkatapos ng pagkabuhay na mag-uli at pag-akyat ni Cristo sa langit, nagsimula ang pangangaral ng mga apostol.

Ito ay nakatala sa aklat ng Mga Gawa.

Ito ay hindi mga nagkataong pangyayari
Hindi ito inimbento

Ito ang pinakaunang pangangaral ng iglesia

Kaya ang tanong:

Ano ang ipinangaral nila tungkol kay Jesus mula pa sa simula?

  • Tao lamang ba?
  • Propeta lamang?
  • Nilikhang nilalang?

O higit pa?

 

Malinaw ang sagot:

Ipinangaral nila si Cristo na may pagka-Dios, kapangyarihan, at awtoridad na para lamang sa Dios

THESIS: Ang Pagka-Dios ni Cristo ay Bahagi ng Orihinal na Ebanghelyo

I. Mga Gawa 2 — Pangangaral ni Pedro

Mga Gawa 2:36
“…ginawang Panginoon at Cristo ang Jesus na ito…”

 

A. “Panginoon” (Kyrios)

Ang salitang ito ay ginagamit sa Lumang Tipan para sa:

Panginoon (YHWH)

 

B. Kahulugan

Hindi ibig sabihin na:

  • naging Dios si Jesus

Kundi:

  • ipinahayag Siya bilang Panginoon

 

C. “Ginawa” (Mga Gawa 2:36) — Ang Grammar ang Wawasak sa Aral na “Tao Lamang si Jesus”

Sinasabi sa Mga Gawa 2:36:

“…ginawa ng Dios ang Jesus na ito… na Panginoon at Cristo.”

May mga nagtuturo na ibig sabihin daw nito ay, si Jesus ay tao lamang at kalaunan ay “ginawang” Panginoon.

Mali ito—parehong sa grammar at sa konteksto.

 

Ang Salitang “Ginawa”

Ang “ginawa” ay galing sa salitang Griyego na ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen):

  • Aorist Active Indicative, 3rd Person Singular
  • mula sa ποιέω (poieō)

Ang salitang ito ay hindi laging nangangahulugang “lumikha” o “pinagsimula.”

Kadalasan, ang ibig sabihin nito ay:

italaga, ipahayag, itatag, o ipakilala

 

Ang Konteksto ang Nagbibigay ng Kahulugan

Si Pedro ay nangaral:

  • pagkatapos ng pagkabuhay na mag-uli
  • pagkatapos ng pag-akyat sa langit ni Cristo

Hindi ito tungkol sa pagiging bago ni Cristo.

Ito ay tungkol sa pagpapahayag kung sino Siya talaga

 

Hindi Maaaring Magkasalungat ang Kasulatan

Kung ang ibig sabihin nito ay “naging Panginoon lang si Jesus”:

  • Mali ang Juan 1:1 — “…ang Verbo ay Dios”
  • Mali ang Juan 8:58 — “Ako nga ay siya”
  • Mali ang pagtanggap Niya ng pagsamba
  • Mawawala ang Kaniyang awtoridad bago ang Mga Gawa 2

 

Ang Tamang Kahulugan

Ang ibig sabihin ng Mga Gawa 2:36:

Ipinahayag ng Dios
Ipinakita sa lahat
Itinatag sa harap ng tao

na si Jesus ay:

Panginoon at Cristo

 

Hindi Siya ginawang Panginoon sa kalikasan,
kundi ipinakilala bilang Panginoon

 

Konklusyon ng Grammar

Wasak ang aral na “tao lamang si Jesus” dahil:

  1. Ang ποιέω ay hindi nangangahulugang “nilikha” sa kontekstong ito
  2. Ang konteksto ay pagpapahayag, hindi pagsisimula
  3. Ang buong Biblia ay nagpapatunay ng Kaniyang pagka-Dios

 

Panghuling punto:

Hindi ibinababa ng Mga Gawa 2:36 si Cristo sa pagiging tao—
ipinapahayag nito na ang ipinako sa krus ay Siya ring Panginoon.

 

Konklusyon

Sa unang sermon pa lang:

Si Cristo ay ipinangaral bilang Panginoon—isang banal na titulo

 

II. Mga Gawa 3 — “Lumikha ng Buhay”

Mga Gawa 3:15
“…at pinatay ninyo ang Lumikha ng buhay…”

 

A. “Lumikha ng Buhay”

Mula sa : ἀρχηγός = archēgos = isang punong pinuno: - lumikha o may-akda, kapitan, prinsipe.

ibig sabihin:

  • pinagmulan
  • may-akda
  • nagbibigay ng buhay

 

Ngunit ayon sa Biblia:

Ang Dios lamang ang pinagmumulan ng buhay

 

Konklusyon

Si Cristo ay:

pinagmumulan ng buhay—isang katangian ng Dios

 

III. Mga Gawa 7 — Panalangin ni Esteban

Mga Gawa 7:59
“…Panginoong Jesus, tanggapin mo ang aking espiritu.”

 

A. Direktang Panalangin

Hindi sa Ama
Kundi kay Jesus

 

B. Paghahambing

Lucas 23:46 — “…Ama… sa iyong mga kamay ay inihahabilin ko ang aking espiritu…”

Ngayon si Esteban:

kay Jesus nagsabi

 

Konklusyon

Si Jesus ay tinuring na:

tumatanggap ng espiritu—kapangyarihan ng Dios

 

IV. Mga Gawa 9 — Pagkakita ni Pablo kay Cristo

Mga Gawa 9:5
“…Ako'y si Jesus na iyong pinaguusig…”

 

A. Pagkakakilanlan ni Cristo

Inakala ni Paul na ang inuusig niya ay:

mga tagasunod ni Cristo

Ngunit sinabi ni Jesus:

" Ako'y si Jesus na iyong pinaguusig"

 

B. Implikasyon

Si Cristo ay nakaugnay sa Kanyang mga tagasunod (cf. Efesos 1:22-23)

Ang kanyang awtoridad ay pinakamataas

Kaya naintindihan niya agad

Agad Siyang kinilala ni Pablo bilang:

“Panginoon”

 

V. Mga Gawa 20:28 — Dugo ng Dios

“…ang iglesia ng Dios, na binili niya ng kaniyang sariling dugo.”

 

Pansinin

“Dios… sariling dugo”

 

Kaya malinaw:

Ang nagbuhos ng dugo ay kinilala bilang Diyos

 

VI. Mga Titulo ni Cristo sa Mga Gawa

Sa buong aklat:

  • Panginoon (Mga Gawa 2:36)
  • Prinsipe ng buhay (Mga Gawa 3:15)
  • Hukom (Mga Gawa 10:42)
  • Tagapagligtas (Mga Gawa 5:31)

 

Ang mga ito ay: Diyos

Ito ay mga tungkulin o titulo na pag-aari ng Dios

 

VII. CENI — Pagtatatag ng Katotohanan

Utos (Command)

  • Mga Gawa 20:28 — Cristo ay tinukoy bilang Dios
  • Gawa 2:36 — Cristo ay tinawag na Panginoon

 

Halimbawa

  • Si Esteban ay nanalangin kay Cristo
  • Ipinangangaral ng mga Apostol ang Kanyang awtoridad

 

Kinakailangang Konklusyon

Kung:

  • Siya ay tinawag na Panginoon
  • Siya ay pinagmumulan ng buhay
  • Siya ay tinatawag sa panalangin

Kaya:

Si Cristo ay Dios

 

VIII. Apologetics — Pagsagot sa Pagtutol

❌   “Nabuo lang ang aral na ito kalaunan”

Hindi totoo dahil:

Ang Mga Gawa ay pinakaunang pangangaral

Nandoon na agad:

  • pagka-Dios
  • awtoridad
  • pagsamba

 

❌   “Tao lang ang tingin ng unang iglesia kay Jesus”

Hindi totoo dahil:

Nananalangin sila sa Kaniya
Tinatawag Siyang Panginoon

 

IX. Polemics — Pagtanggi sa Modernong Kamalian

❌   “Na-develop lang ang pagka-Dios ni Cristo”

Mali dahil:

Sa simula pa lang, malinaw na ang turo sa Kasulatan

 

❌   “Hindi malinaw ang turo ng mga apostol”

Mali dahil:

Malinaw ang kanilang:

  • pangangaral
  • panalangin
  • patotoo

 

X. Iisang Mensahe mula sa Simula

Mula sa pinakaunang pangangaral:

  • Si Cristo ay Panginoon
  • Si Cristo ay Tagapagligtas
  • Si Cristo ay may pagka-Dios

 

Walang pagbabago
Walang dagdag

Iisang mensahe

 

Pangwakas: Ang Orihinal na Ebanghelyo ay Ipinangaral Pagka-Dios ni Cristo

Malinaw sa Mga Gawa:

  • Ipinangaral si Cristo bilang Panginoon
  • May kapangyarihan Siya ng Dios
  • Tinatawag Siya sa panalangin
  • Tinukoy Siya bilang Dios

 

Kaya ang konklusyon:

Ang pagka-Dios ni Cristo ay hindi kathang doktrina—ito ay bahagi ng pinakaunang pangangaral ng Ebanghelyo.

 

Panghuling pahayag:

Mula pa sa simula, ipinangaral ng mga apostol si Jesus hindi lamang bilang tao, kundi bilang Panginoon, Tagapagligtas, at Dios—na pundasyon ng tunay na Ebanghelyo.

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