(Excerpted from Is Jesus God? A Conspectus on The Deity of Christ by C. J. Sodergren, Rock Island, Illinois: Augustana Book Concern, n.d.)

“There are two truths which the Christian Church must rediscover if it is to cherish any hope of saving men from sinking in the quicksands of despair. One is the inspiration of the Bible; the other is the Deity of Christ.” 3

“The reader will observe that we have elected to employ the term Deity rather than Divinity. One reason for our choice is the important distinction which obtains between the two terms. Divinity means Godlike, while Deity means Godhead.” 5

“Another reason for our preference is the abuse to which the term Divinity has been subjected in our day. We frequently hear it said that all men are divine; that is, akin to God and sharing in His perfections. And while there is truth in the statement, especially as applied to regenerate men (Eph. 3. 19; 2 Pet. 1. 4), when used of Christ it may therefore mean no more than a similar kinship and degree of excellence. Hence it is important to avoid ambiguity in language and make it clear from the start that question at issue is not the Divinity of Christ in this modified or partial sense, but the unqualified and unrestricted Deity of Christ; namely His absolute Godhead.” 6

“If the Father is God, and the Son is another God, and the Holy Spirit a third God, we have three Gods, no matter how much we may deny it. And if the Son is not another God, it would seem that He is either the same God as the Father, or else is not God at all. For both Scripture and reason tell us that there is and can be only one God. There appears to be no escape from the logical conclusion.” 8

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Deity of Christ

If Christ is not divine,
Then lay the Book away,
And every blessed faith resign
That has so long been yours and mine,
Through many a trying day;
Forget the place of bended knee;
And dream no more of worlds to be.
If Christ is not divine,
Go seal again the tomb;
Take down the Cross, Redemption’s sign;
Quench all the stars of hope that shine
Forget the upper room;
And let us turn and travel on
Across the night that knows no dawn.

Clarence E. Flynn.

(Excerpted from Is Jesus God?
A Conspectus on The Deity of Christ
by C. J. Sodergren, Rock Island, Illinois:
Augustana Book Concern, n.d.)