Systematic Theology (Vol 1) - Hodge - XXXIII - Chapter 7 (The divinity of Christ) continued

Required reading
Systematic Theology Volume 1 by Charles Hodge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 7 (The divinity of Christ) by reading up to the heading '3. Particular passages which teach the divinity of Christ'.

My summary
Today Hodge continues teaching us that Christ is divine.

Last week we saw the divinity of Christ in the Old Testament. 

This week Hodge shows general characteristics of the New Testament teaching concerning Christ that demonstrate his divinity.

Thus Christ's divinity is demonstrated by:
(i) the sense in which he is called Lord;
(ii) his being presented as the object of our religious affections;
(iii) the relations which he bears to his people and to the world (as teacher and controller);
(iv) the nature of his promises;
(v) his control over nature.

What grabbed me
I always enjoy being reminded that Jesus has authority to forgive sins: 'Christ promises to his people blessings which none but God has either the right or the power to bestow. He promises to forgive sin. It is intuitively certain that God only can forgive sin ; He is our moral governor ; it is against Him that all sin is committed, and He only has the right to remit its penalty. When therefore Christ says to the soul. Thy sins are forgiven, He exercises a divine prerogative. Even the Man of Sin, who sitteth in the temple of God and exalteth himself above all that is called God, claims no more than the judicial authority of deciding when the conditions of pardon at the bar of God have been fulfilled. He assumes, in relation to the divine law, the relation which a human judge sustains to the law of the land, A judge does not acquit or condemn on his own authority. The authority is in the state or sovereign power. The judge merely determines whether the grounds of condemnation are present or not. But as the sovereign against whom sin is committed, Christ has the right to pardon or to punish.'

If the Christ can forgive sin, then he must be God.

Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 7 (The divinity of Christ).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.