IV. STATEMENTS WHICH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ARE MADE DISTINCTLY OF JEHOVAH, GOD, TAKEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TO REFER TO JESUS CHRIST
The fourth line of proof of the absolute Deity of Jesus Christ is found in the fact that _over and over again statements which in the Old Testament are made distinctly of Jehovah, God, are taken in the New Testament to refer to Jesus Christ_. We have not time to illustrate this at length, but will give but one illustration where many might be given. In Jer. 11:20 the prophet says, +"But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause."+ Here the prophet distinctly says that it is Jehovah of Hosts who _judgest_ and _triest the reins and the heart_. And in the 17th chapter and the tenth verse Jeremiah represents Jehovah Himself as saying the same thing in these words, +"I, Jehovah, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."+ But in the New Testament in Rev. 2:23 _the Lord Jesus_ says, +"I am he which searcheth the reins and the hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works."+ We are distinctly told in the context that it is "The Son of God" who is speaking here. So Jesus claims for Himself in the N. T. what Jehovah in the O. T. says is true of Himself and of Himself alone, and in very many other instances statements which in the Old Testament are made distinctly of Jehovah, God, are taken in the N. T. to refer to Jesus Christ. This is to say, in New Testament thought and doctrine Jesus Christ occupies the place that Jehovah occupies in Old Testament thought and doctrine.
V. THE WAY IN WHICH THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS CHRIST THE SON ARE COUPLED TOGETHER
The fifth line of proof of the absolute Deity of our Lord is found _in the way in which the name of Jesus Christ is coupled with that of God the Father. In numerous passages His name is coupled with the name of God the Father in a way in which it would be impossible to couple the name of any finite being with that of the Deity._ We have time for but a few of the many illustrations that might be given. A striking instance is in the words of our Lord Himself in John 14:23 where we read, +"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and he will come unto him, and make our abode with him."+ Here our Lord Jesus does not hesitate to couple Himself with the Father in such a way as to say "_we_," i.e., _God the Father and I_ will come and make our abode with him. In John 14:1 He says, +"Let not your heart be troubled: Believe in God, believe also in me."+ If Jesus Christ was not God this is shocking blasphemy. There is absolutely no middle ground between admitting the Deity of Jesus Christ and charging Christ with the most daring and appalling blasphemy of which any man in all history was ever guilty.