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.