"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel... By which also ye are saved... unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Today, as we drift into an ever-increasing sea of apostasy, it should not surprise us to see many new sects rising up within "Christianity" who deny the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter warned that there would be "false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them" (2Peter 2:1). Paul said "the last days" would be characterized by "evil men and seducers [who would] wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2Timothy 3:1, 13). Many would follow these false "teachers" and "turn away their ears from the truth" (2Timothy 4:3-4). In Paul's day there were "many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers … teaching things which they ought not" (Titus 1:10-11). These deceivers may speak in the name of Jesus or Christ but never "our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2Peter 2:20).

Their teachings are called "damnable heresies" because with them they bring ruin and everlasting destruction. Therefore, the apostle Paul gave his charge to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2Timothy 4:2). He would tell Titus, "rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus 1:13). This of course needs to be done "with meekness and fear" as we "give an answer [Gr. apologia] to every man" (1Peter 3:15). "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will" (2Timothy 2:24-26).

In this tract it is our desire to give a brief "apologetic" in defense of the deity of our LORD Jesus Christ. His name is exalted above every name that is named, and there is none other name whereby we must be saved. "All power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth" (Mt. 28:18), and "there is no power but of God" (Romans 13:1). He is The Creator, The First and the Last, The Good Shepherd, The Redeemer, The Rock of our Salvation, and The Almighty God, He changes not! (See Chart Below)

As we attempt to "prove" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) the deity of Jesus Christ, we need not look further than to the place of worship. Within the Scriptures we are clearly told, "thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14). Only the Creator is worthy of worship for He is the Maker of all things. Satan tried to usurp the place of God (Isaiah 14:12-15), which led to his fall. He deluded Adam and Eve in a similar fashion and countless others throughout the ages. He came to Jesus in His temptation trying to seduce Him to fall down and worship him. But Jesus replied, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:8-9).

Jesus knew the Scriptures that worship was reserved only for "the Lord thy God" and to usurp this place is the most grievous kind of iniquity, which originated in the heart of Satan. When John received the "Revelation" by an angel, he fell down to worship before his feet, but was quickly rebuked, "See thou do it not … worship God " (Revelation 22:8-9). Peter would not accept worship when Cornelius "fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man" (Acts 10:25-26). Neither would Paul and Barnabus receive the worship of men (Acts 14:11-15). Men are creatures made in the image of God and are never to be worshipped.

Angels are not to be worshipped, men are not to be worshipped, rather we are to "Fear God, and give glory to him … and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" (Revelation 14:7). Who is this Creator to whom worship is due? He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And this is the decree, "let all the angels of God worship him" (Hebrews 1:5-6).

In the Scriptures there are many who worshipped Jesus. Not once did He rebuke them. When Jesus came into the world the Magi "fell down, and worshipped him" (Matthew 2:11). After two women observed the empty tomb they met their risen Saviour and "they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him" (Matthew 28:9). The apostles worshipped Him time and again (Matthew 14:33; 28:17) and finally when He ascended into heaven "they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Luke 24:52). This they could do for they knew He was "the Christ, the Son of the living God". They knew that He "came out from God and came forth from the Father" (John 16:27-28).

Thomas called Him "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Peter called Him "God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (2Peter 1:1). Paul as well called Him "the great God and our Saviour" (Titus 2:13). David called Him God (Matthew 22:42-45). Isaiah called Him God (Isaiah 9:6). Jeremiah called Him LORD (Jeremiah 23:5-6). The LORD Himself who said "my glory will I not give to another" (Isaiah 42:8) said to His Son, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" (Hebrews 1:8-10).

See to it that you do not deny the Lord who bought thee (2Peter 2:1). The LORD God purchased thee, but it was not with corruptible things as silver or gold "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" (1Peter 1:18-21).

God is a Spirit so our redemption could only be possible if God became a man without sin and thereby pay the debt of our sin with His own Life. Paul told the overseers at Ephesus "to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).

This is the testimony of Scripture. "The Word was God … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14). Jesus is called "Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1:23). He is God "manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). In other words "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" (2Corinthians 5:19). He "took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:7-8). He "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).

Jesus Christ is LORD	OLD TESTAMENT	NEW TESTAMENT
The Creator	"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:11). (Isaiah 42:5; 44:24; 45:18)	"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3) "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" (Colossians 1:16).
He Changes Not	"For I am the LORD, I change not" (Malachi 3:6).	"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8).
The First and the Last	"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God" (Isaiah 44:6).	"I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen" (Revelation 1:17-18).
The Good Shepherd	"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1).	"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).
The Saviour	"I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour" (Isaiah 43:11).	" 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) "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).
The Redeemer	"As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 47:4).	"… the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity" (Titus 2:13-14).
The Almighty	"… the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God" (Genesis 17:1).	"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" (Revelation 1:8).
He Calms the Sea	“Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” (Psalm 89:9) “For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof . . . . He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still” (Psalm 107:25, 29).	“He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm” (Luke 8:24).
Every Knee Shall Bow	“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (Isaiah 45:22-23)	“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
The Rock	"For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?" (Psalms 18:31).	"And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (1Corinthians 10:4).
Only One LORD	"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4).	"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1Corinthians 8:6).
Lord of the Sabbath	“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:2-3).	“And He [Jesus] said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28).
Light of the World	"For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." (Psalm 36:9) "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1) "the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light" (Isaiah 60:19) (Hab. 3:4; Eze. 10:4)	"In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4). "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)
Judge	"Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth." (Psalm 96:13) "Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity." (Psalm 98:9) "But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness." (Psalm 9:7-8) "For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. (Isaiah 33:20)	"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31) "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war... And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11, 16) "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." (John 5:22-23) "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom" (2 Timothy 4:1)
I AM	"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 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 3:13-14).	"Jesus said 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." (John 8:58-59). "They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground." (John 18:5-6)
Desires to gather His people	" As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD ... But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation." (Deuteronomy 32:10-15).	" O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37)
He knows our thoughts	"Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou ONLY knowest the hearts of the children of men:)" (2 Chronicles 6:30). "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off." (Psalm 139:2) "Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart." (Psalm 44:21)	"And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." (John 2:25)
He is LORD of lords	"For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:" (Deuteronomy 10:17)	"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17:14) "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16)

"The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven " (1Corinthians 15:47).

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ " (Acts 2:36).

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord , to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. " (John 14:7-10)