Why is belief in the deity of Christ important? And in what way does belief in the deity of Christ really impact our lives? In Paul’s letter to the Colossians he places much emphasis on the deity of Christ, saying such things as the following.

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 1:16-17

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ~ Colossians 2:9

These texts are embedded in Paul’s encouragement to the Colossians regarding the actual living out of their faith in everyday life, and it is for this reason that I think so many of us miss the “why” behind the revelation of the person of Jesus Christ. It isn’t simply so that we believe the right thing (have the correct tenant regarding our faith), but that we experience the realness of the Living God in our lives.

In the opening of his letter Paul says to the Colossians, We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness… ~ Colossians 1:3-11

It was the genuineness of their faith in Christ and in God through Christ that moved Paul to emphasize the deity of Christ, even telling them that it is Christ in them who is the hope of glory. In other words, the genuineness of their faith and love they had for all the saints which moved Paul to pray for them, was the result of Christ in them.

The deity of Christ is important to us because Christ is how we experience God in our lives. It is through Christ that all the riches of God’s goodness and grace are ministered to us and through us to others. It is not always important that we always persuade the unbeliever that Christ is God. There are times when that may be the case such as when we are in engaging with someone of another faith, but for the most part, it’s important that the unbeliever experience the Spirit of Christ (who is God) through us.

This is how they will come to the knowledge of the truth and know that Christ is indeed the Son of God, and fully divine. This happens when they experience the genuineness of our faith rather than judgment or condemnation they may have experienced from other Christians in the past.

Recently, I was a guest in the home of a couple who isn’t married but have been together for a couple of years or so. I was there helping the gentleman with a shower and tile remodel. While in their home, my prayer was that they would be blessed by Christ in me. I had no desire to bring up my faith, or preach to them. I simply wanted them to experience the goodness of the Lord through my being in their home. I wanted them to experience Christ in me in whatever manner God desired. Two days before I left, God opened the door for me to encourage them and I believe that good seed was planted.

My faith was in Christ who lives in me. I did not have to wear a badge of my Christianity on my sleeve. I just simply needed to be kind and wait patiently on the timing of the Lord. When we can learn to rely on the Spirit of the Lord to guide us, his Spirit will work in us and through us in ways we could never do God’s work on our own.

The deity of Christ is important for us because the Spirit who works within us is the Spirit of Christ, and Christ is the only one by whom we can approach the Father. This is more than a “tenant of our faith” of what we agree is truth, it is actually the faith we are to put into practice. Christ in us is our access to God the Father, For through him we both (Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ~ Ephesians 2:19

Oftentimes when we bring up the deity of Christ we consider texts such as John 1:1-4, and 1 Timothy 3:16 where Paul says God was manifest in the flesh, and these are excellent texts to show the deity of Christ, but how often do we consider texts such as “Christ in you, the hope of glory?”

That Christ is divine should not simply be a tenant of our faith explaining what we believe, but a life changing truth. Christ is God with us, God in us, and God working through us. When Paul tells the Colossians that in Christ dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, he follows that statement by saying, And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

If we could ever recognize that the one who is the author and finisher of our faith is the one who works in us by his Spirit to glorify the Father, I think the reality of the deity of Christ would have a much greater impact on our lives and we wouldn’t be so quick to pass judgment on those outside the faith. Rather we would patiently wait on the Lord and more people would desire the Christ we claim to know. Christ is the only reason our faith is legit, so let’s allow the Living Christ to be Christ in us today.

Recently, I began to think about some of the scriptures that I learned as a young man, in particular they are scriptures that pertained to God’s word, for example Psalm 138:2 tells us that God has magnified his word above all his name.

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. ~ Psalm 138:8

Now this is truly staggering when we take the time to reflect on how glorious the name of the Lord is. Psalm 72:19 says, blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. In Nehemiah we read, Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. ~ Nehemiah 9:5

Furthermore, Jesus prayed for his disciples saying, And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. ~ John 17:11

When we consider how glorious the name of the Lord is, such scriptures come to mind as Jesus teaching us to pray, Our Father which art in Heaven, hollowed be thy name. And who can forget the words of Paul when he declares that God has highly exalted Jesus, and given him a name which is above every name ~ Philippians 2:9. 

With all we have recorded in God’s Word regarding the great and glorious name of the Lord, the Psalmist tells us that God has exalted his word above all his name.

Wow!!! This is truly amazing, and brings to mind another text that meant a  lot to me as a young man. It is found in the book of Joshua.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. ~ Joshua 1:8

The book of the Law is a reference to the law of Moses, and it was God’s word for the children of Israel after God brought them out of the land of Egypt.

After the death of Moses, God spoke to Joshua and said, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.  Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. ~ v. 2 -7

God told Joshua that just as he was with Moses, so he would be with him. He then follows that by saying I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage.

These words bring to mind the New Testament words of the writer of Hebrews. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. ~ Hebrews 13:5-6 

When God instructed Joshua to meditate on his law (his Word) day and night it was so that Joshua would walk according to God’s word, “thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.”

Joshua was being instructed by God to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only as James in the New Testament teaches us. If we only hear the Word of God and don’t put it into practice, we deceive ourselves.

God’s instructions to Joshua came with the promise of prosperity and good success because of God’s presence would be with him.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. ~ v .9

This promise is carried over into the New Testament for us, and the source of our courage is knowing that the Lord himself is with us. God is with us, but if we do not keep his word in the forefront and live according to the Word, it’s easy to forget that.

The prosperity and good success that God promised Joshua is not material riches that greed feeds upon. It was the prosperity of his soul. When we meditate on God’s word and live accordingly, we become keenly aware of his presence with us, and the more we are conscious of his presence, the more we enter into a place of rest and trust.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ~ Psalm 37:25

True prosperity leads to contentment in the Lord, for godliness with contentment is great gain. ~ 1 Timothy 6:6

Now consider the following words of Psalm 1.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. ~ Psalm 1:1-3 

Notice the correlation between God’s promise to Joshua and the opening verses of the book of Psalms. Both promise prosperity in connection to meditation in God’s Word. The Psalmist actually says, “whatsoever he does shall prosper.” What a promise! This aligns the words of Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

When God is involved in what you are doing, you will prosper in what ever you do! This comes by your soul prospering by the Word of God.

Unfortunately, prosperity has been twisted to mean something different in modern times than what it means in scripture. The promise of prosperity that comes through meditating on God’s word is not the promise of material wealth and riches. It is the prosperity of the soul. It is being enriched by God in all things that causes us to grow spiritually and bear fruit in God’s Kingdom. It is being enriched with faith, love, grace, righteousness, and godly virtue.

As we grow in the attributes of holy righteousness and walk uprightly before the Lord we become more and more confident of his presence in our lives. This then spills over into our daily lives and we cease to live in fear of lack or insufficiency because we know and are confident that the Lord is our helper. That my friends is true prosperity, and that comes from abiding in God’s Word. Keep the Word of God in a place of utmost honor in your life for in it is your confidence in the Living God. In it is the prosperity of your soul.

Material prosperity can vanish overnight, but true prosperity is eternal and lasting where thieves and robbers cannot break through and steal. True prosperity is the word producing much fruit in your soul.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ~ John 15:7-8

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake… ~ Philippians 1:29 ESV

The apostle Paul was a man who endured much suffering for the cause of Christ, and one thing you will never see within Paul’s teachings is the concept of “living your best life now.” This ideology (living your best life) has permeated much of Western Christianity’s view of God, but it is a fleshly view of God, and not from the Spirit of the Lord.

This view undergirds the ideology that any inconvenience is an attack from the enemy. Truly, Western Christianity knows little to nothing about the calling of grace to suffering for the sake of Christ. It is only when we are uncomfortable in our flesh (our carnal nature) that we experience what it means to suffer for Christ.

Any gospel that portrays God’s blessings as only comforting our carnal nature is a false gospel, and will lead to stunted growth in the grace of God. Thus many within American Christianity have at best a false and fleshly concept of God. This is a serious problem.

Have you ever considered that suffering for the sake of Christ is a calling that accompanies belief in Christ Jesus? When Paul says, “it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,” he follows that by saying, “having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” ~ v. 30

What is Paul referring to? Well the answer is found within the flow of thought in this opening chapter of Philippians. Consider with me the first 7 verses which will set the stage for what Paul is referring to.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ~ Philippians 1:1-7 ESV

Where Paul says, “for you are all partakers with me of grace,” the KJV says “ye all are partakers of my grace.”

Many years ago when I followed the teachings of the Word of Faith, I was taught that when Paul said “my grace” as recorded in the KJV, he was referring to the Philippians being his partners in support of Paul’s ministry. Now, it wasn’t the minister who made popular the phrase, “your best life now” who I learned that from. I go way back, and before him in my WOF history.

The ideology that Philippians were entitled to partake of the blessing on the apostle Paul’s life serves the purposes of mega ministers who see themselves as God’s anointed. Thus the more you invest in them, the more privileged you are to be enriched by the mantle and gifting that is upon them, improving your quality of life. If they were rich, you get in on it, if they had miracles, healing, etc., you get in on it as well.

That my friends is not the gospel. That is a marketing scheme that appeals to the flesh and garners financial support for these enterprises called ministries. Yet it is not at all what Paul is talking about. Paul is talking about suffering for the sake of Christ, a calling Paul has embraced. When Jesus sent a disciple name Ananias to pray for Paul, Jesus said, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. ~ Acts 9:15-16

Did you ever notice that Jesus never once told Paul or any of his followers how prosperous they were going to be and how he would fulfill all their dreams and give them their best life now? You have never read that in the New Testament and never will, but you will read about suffering for Christ’s sake. You will read where Jesus himself says “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” ~ Acts 9:16 ESV

The Philippians had recognized the call to suffering for the sake of Christ, and in this manner they were partners with Paul in the truth of the gospel. Thus Paul prayed earnestly for them.

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. ~ v. 8-14 ESV

Notice that Paul viewed his imprisonment as suffering for Christ and serving the purpose of advancing the gospel. Paul did not have a best life now view of the gospel as many of us in the West have. Paul did not view his sufferings as a spiritual attack that must be rebuked. Paul viewed his imprisonment as furthering the gospel. This spiritual sight that Paul had regarding the things he suffered cannot be learned with the best life now mindset. Paul’s understanding was spiritual, the best life now view is carnal.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

Matthew Henry says, “Paul’s sufferings made him known at court, where perhaps he would never have otherwise been known; and this might lead some of them to enquire after the gospel for which he suffered, which they might otherwise have never heard of. When his bonds were manifest in the palace, they were manifest in all other places. The sentiments of the court have great influence on the sentiments of all the people.”By the sufferings Paul endured for Christ, the gospel had infiltrated Caesar’s household. This is evident in Paul valedictorian to the Philippians – All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.  ~ Philippians 4:22

If Paul had been carnal and held a view of God that he should live his best life now, he would surely not have had the same disposition regarding his imprisonment, and the gospel would not have advanced throughout the Royal Palace. God desires that all be saved and for that to happen, the gospel has to advance, and thus we are called as ambassadors to endure suffering for the sake of Christ.

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake… ~ Philippians 1:29 ESV