The deity of Jesus Christ has been a topic of discussion since He came into the world and His own received Him not. One just has to read the gospel of John to see that the unbelieving Jews of Jesus day, condemned Jesus Christ for claiming to be God, even though He was a man. Here goes a few excerpts:
1. Jews wanted to kill Jesus because He made Himself equal to God
"16So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." John 5:16-18
2. Jews wanted to kill Jesus because He claimed to be God
"30I and the Father are one.” 31Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:30-33
3. Jews wanted to Kill Jesus because He used the very name that God used when He revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush
"58“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds." John 8:58-59
Here goes the burning bush passage, where God identifies Himself as "I AM"
"God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:14
So we see on 3 different occasions in the book of John that the Jews knew exactly what Jesus Christ was claiming to be. He was claiming to be God in human flesh and the Jews considered it blasphemy, thus they repeatedly tried to stone Him. Ultimately they would condemn Him to die on a cross. But praise be to God that it was all in His sovereign plan for it to happen. Hallelujah!
But I ask you IC brethren and sister does salvation depend upon recognizing who Jesus Christ truly is, which is God in the flesh? Or can one still be saved, even though they WILLINGLY deny the deity of Jesus Christ, but yet they still have faith that He is the Savior?