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Jesus Christ
There is perhaps no issue in the Bible of greater importance than the identity of the One who died for us to be our Savior, Jesus Christ. If doubt can be created about Christ’s true identity and uniqueness, the very foundations of our faith come into question. That is why the deity of Christ is so often challenged and refuted by those in the cults and by those who would seek to do harm to the Church. Satan’s ultimate plan is to convince mankind that Jesus is someone other than God in the flesh. Therefore, we will take a look at the clear teaching of the Bible–that Jesus was not only fully man, but also fully God. While this is by no means an exhaustive study of Scripture it will give you clear assurance that according to the Word of God, Jesus is indeed God.
I. Jesus is called God throughout the Scriptures.
Time and time again Jesus’ Deity is talked about and declared in Scripture:
1. The apostle John clearly declares Jesus as God in John 1:1,14. In John 1:1 John says that the Word is God, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." Then in vs. 14 he says that the Word took on flesh and became man. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...". Simple logic declares that if Jesus is the Word and the Word is God then Jesus is God!
In 1 John 5:20 the apostle John once again identifies Jesus as God, "And we are in him who is true – even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." In this passage John identifies Jesus as both the Son of God and God Himself.
2. The apostle Paul equates Jesus with God in Titus 2:13 "We wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ who gave himself for us." And also in 1 Timothy 1:17 when speaking of Christ he says, "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen"
3. The apostle Peter in his greeting as he opens 2 Peter also calls Jesus God. 2 Peter 1:1 says "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours."
4. The apostle Thomas is recorded in John 20:28 as addressing Jesus as "my Lord and my God." When Thomas called Jesus God, Jesus didn’t refuse the title or correct Thomas but received it as the truth it was.
II. Jesus claimed His own Deity.
Not only did Jesus allow others to recognize and assert His equality with God, Jesus Himself claimed equality with God.
1. In a dispute with the Jews of His day, in John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Before Abraham was, I am." Christ was not merely claiming that He existed before Abraham, but that He was still in existence before Abraham. Thus, He was claiming to possess absolute eternal existence, something that only God possesses. In addition, I AM was the most revered divine name of God in the Old Testament (Ex. 3:14), so Jesus was identifying Himself with the name of God. Dr. A.T. Robertson, one of the greatest Greek scholars who ever lived, had this to say about John 8:58 after translating it "I am": "Undoubtedly here Jesus claims eternal existence with the absolute phrase used of God."
(Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. V, pp. 158-159).
2. John 10:30-33 is another clear passage teaching that Jesus is God. Jesus says, "I and the Father are one." When studying the original Greek of Jesus’ statement "I and the Father are one," the word translated "one" means one in essence or nature, not merely one in purpose.
3. In John 14:7-9 Jesus says, "…Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ " According to Jesus Christ, seeing Him was equal to seeing God the Father.
III. Jesus’ enemies understood His claims.
As you read the New Testament you see that those who heard Christ speak clearly understood His claims to be God.
1. In John 5:17 Jesus claims equality with God and in vs. 18 we read "For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."
2. In John 10:30-33 after Jesus says, "I and the Father are one" the "Jews picked up stones to stone him." Jesus asks "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" They answer with clear understanding of what Jesus had claimed, "We are not stoning you for any of these" (the miracles He performed) "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."
IV. Scripture identifies Jesus with Divine authority and attributes.
A quick look through the Word of God reveals that Jesus possesses authority and attributes that are to be attributed only to God Himself.
1. In John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 1:1-3 we read that Jesus is the Creator.
2. In Romans 9:5 we see Jesus as authority over all men. In fact He is declared "…God over all."
3. In Matthew 9:2-6, Mark 2:5-11 and Luke 7:48 Jesus is shown to have the power to forgive sin. Only God can forgive sin!
4. In Matthew 14:25, Luke 8:24 and many other places Jesus displays power over nature.
5. In Matthew 28:9 &17, Luke 5:8, John 20:28 as well as other passages Jesus receives and accepts worship. Every other man of God in the New Testament who receives worship immediately refuses the worship, declaring that God alone is to be worshiped. If He isn’t Deity then why didn’t He correct those who worshipped Him?
6. Jesus Christ is Omnipresent (the ability to be everywhere at once), Matthew 18:20, Matthew 28:20.
7. Jesus Christ is Omniscient (having all knowledge), Matthew 16:21, Luke 11:17, John 4:29, 16:30, 21:17.
8. Jesus Christ is Omnipotent (all powerful), Matthew 8:26, 27; 28:18; Luke 7:14-16; John 11:38-44; Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 1:8.
V. God calls Jesus God.
The whole of Hebrews 1:3-13 is a declaration of the Deity of Christ. In verse eight, quoting from Psalm 45:6,7, the writer of Hebrews makes this clear statement attributing it to God Himself "Your throne, O God (Jesus), will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom."
Conclusion:
The Deity of Christ is taught in Scripture so explicitly and repeatedly that the question should be settled for all those who accept the Bible as the authoritative Word of God. There can be no question that Jesus presented Himself as God incarnate. Nor is there any doubt that the writers of the New Testament personally held this same high estimate of Jesus and worshiped Him as God. It is also clear that the Church in all ages, whether Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, or Congregational, has expressed through its creeds, hymns and devotional writings, the understanding and belief that Jesus is God. And throughout the ages the great majority of those who have read the New Testament have come to the same conclusion.
Why is this issue so important? As Jesus put it, "He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5:23) and "if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:24).
Jesus came to earth and lived in human flesh for 33 years. He lived a perfect, sinless life, and then laid that life down as an eternal payment for our sins. Mohammed didn’t pay for our sins, because Mohammed wasn’t God. Buddha didn’t pay for our sins, because Buddha wasn’t God. You can’t pay for your sins because you aren’t God. Only Jesus Christ is sinless and can pay for our sins, because only Jesus Christ is God. He alone can save us and bring us back into relationship with the Father.
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
"Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
As you consider the Deity of Christ, be careful to also consider your relationship with Him. Your beliefs hold eternal consequences.
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