The Doctrine of Christ - Deity of Christ

"Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." (John 5:18)
Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is equal to the Father in nature, separate in person, yet submissive in duties; as such, He is God. The arguments for His deity are His applying the titles of deity to Himself, His speaking of God as uniquely His Father, His making claims to deity, His using the Yahwistic "I Am", and His claiming to be equal with God in nature. In deity, Jesus is God, and was unalterably God. Such a claim would have been the highest form of blasphemy had it not been true.
Illustration: Our Lord was not the only one to be recognized as God in New Testament times. When Herod accepted praise from his subjects-that he spoke as a god-he was destroyed by worms sent by God (Acts 12:23). In contrast, when Paul and Barnabas were called gods, they denied any deity in themselves, instead preaching the living God to their audience (Acts 14:11-18).
Application: Christians should allow Christ to live His divine life in them, so others will see His influence and glorify God (Matt. 5:16).