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Is Jesus God?

The question “Is Jesus God?” stands as one of the most significant and debated questions in history. For nearly two millennia, Christians have affirmed the divinity of Jesus Christ, while others have questioned or denied it.

Understanding this issue involves examining biblical claims, theological interpretations, historical context, and the implications for faith and worship.

This article explores whether Jesus is truly God and how this belief is grounded in Scripture and doctrine.

Biblical Claims of Jesus’ Divinity

The Bible does not record Jesus explicitly saying the words “I am God,” but it contains numerous statements and events that strongly affirm His divinity. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is described in ways that only apply to God.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes several “I Am” statements:

“Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).

This declaration alludes to God’s self-identification in Exodus 3:14  “I AM WHO I AM.” The Jewish audience immediately understood the claim, as evidenced by their reaction  they picked up stones to kill Him for blasphemy. Jesus was not simply stating preexistence but equating Himself with the eternal God.

Another key passage is John 1:1–3, which states:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … Through Him all things were made…”

Later, in verse 14, it reads:

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”

This identifies Jesus (the Word) as both fully God and fully man. The Apostle Paul similarly declares the deity of Christ in Colossians 1:15-17:

“He is the image of the invisible God… all things were created through Him and for Him… in Him all things hold together.”

These statements place Jesus in the realm of divine creation and eternal existence attributes belonging only to God.

Jesus’ Statements and Actions

Jesus consistently spoke and acted with authority that presupposed His divine nature. He forgave sins (Mark 2:5–7), something only God can do. He accepted worship (Matthew 14:33; John 9:38), even though prayer was strictly reserved for God in Jewish belief.

In John 10:30, Jesus says:

“I and the Father are one.”

Once again, the Jews sought to stone Him, not for a parable or misunderstanding, but because they understood this as a claim to be equal with God.

Jesus did not deny their understanding; instead, He reinforced it by quoting Psalm 82 and stating that He had been “set apart” and “sent into the world” by the Father, again implying divine origin and purpose.

The Trinity: One God in Three Persons

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity holds that God is one Being in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is not a contradiction but a mystery revealed through Scripture. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, yet there are not three gods but one.

The baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16–17) reveals all three Persons acting simultaneously:

  • The Father speaks from heaven.
  • The Son is baptized.
  • The Holy Spirit descends like a dove.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His followers to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit,, placing Himself on equal footing with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Old Testament Echoes of a Divine Messiah

While the complete revelation of Jesus’ divinity comes in the New Testament, the Old Testament contains shadows and prophecies pointing to a divine Messiah. Isaiah 9:6 declares:

“For to us a child is born… and he will be called… Mighty God, Everlasting Father…”

Micah 5:2 speaks of a ruler coming from Bethlehem, “whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” These references suggest more than a mere human deliverer.

Psalm 110:1 records David’s prophetic statement:

“The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand…'”

Jesus Himself used this passage in Matthew 22 to question how the Messiah could be merely David’s Son if David calls Him “Lord.” The implication is that the Messiah (Jesus) is both David’s descendant and his sovereign.

Early Church Belief in the Divinity of Christ

The belief that Jesus is God was not a later invention by church councils but was present from the earliest days of the church. The earliest Christian hymns (like Philippians 2:5–11) portray Jesus as preexistent, divine, and worthy of worship:

“…being in very nature God… made himself nothing… therefore God exalted him… every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord…”

The Greek word “Lord” (Kyrios) used here was the same title used in the Greek Old Testament for Yahweh, Israel’s covenant name for God. To call Jesus “Lord” was to affirm His deity.

By the second and third centuries, church fathers such as Ignatius, Irenaeus, and Tertullian explicitly defended the divinity of Christ against heresies. The Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. merely formalized the already held belief that Jesus is “of one substance with the Father.”

Objections to Jesus’ Divinity

Despite the overwhelming biblical and historical evidence, some still reject Jesus’ divinity. The most common objections include:

  • Jesus never said, “I am God.”
  • While Jesus never used those exact English words, His claims and actions indicated deity to His audience, who often reacted with accusations of blasphemy.
  • Jesus called Himself the Son of God, not God.
  • In the cultural and theological context of first-century Judaism, claiming to be the Son of God carried divine implications. John 5:18 notes that calling God His Father was “making himself equal with God.”
  • Jesus was a prophet or great teacher, but not God.
  • A prophet or moral teacher who falsely claimed to be God would be neither good nor trustworthy. As C.S. Lewis famously argued, Jesus must be either “a lunatic, a liar, or Lord.” The option of merely being a wise teacher is not left open to us.

Theological Significance of Jesus Being God

The question of whether Jesus is God is not merely academic; it affects the entire foundation of Christian faith. If Jesus is not God:

  • His sacrifice cannot atone for the sins of the world.
  • He cannot be the perfect mediator between God and man.
  • Worshipping Him would be idolatry.

But if He is God:

  • His death on the cross is sufficient to pay for all sins.
  • He alone has the power to grant eternal life.
  • His words and commands carry ultimate authority.

As God incarnate, Jesus is both the complete revelation of who God is and the bridge through which humanity can be reconciled to Him.

Conclusion: Is Jesus God?

Yes, Jesus is God. The Bible presents Him not merely as a prophet or moral teacher, but as the eternal Word made flesh, the image of the invisible God, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, and the risen Lord seated at the right hand of the Father.

Belief in Jesus as God is not only essential to Christian doctrine but is also central to salvation. As Romans 10:9 declares:

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Faith in Jesus Christ as God and Saviour is the cornerstone of Christianity. He is not just a good man who lived a long time ago. He is Emmanuel, “God with us.”

FAQs

Did Jesus ever say, “I am God”?

Not in those exact words, but He made many statements that were understood as claims to divinity, such as “Before Abraham was, I am” and “I and the Father are one.”

Why did the Jews want to stone Jesus?

Because they believed He was committing blasphemy by claiming equality with God (John 10:33).

Is belief in Jesus’ divinity necessary for salvation?

Yes. Recognizing Jesus as Lord (divine) is essential to the Christian confession of faith (Romans 10:9).

How does the Trinity support Jesus being God?

The Trinity affirms that Jesus is the second Person of the one true God, distinct from the Father, but equal.

What does it mean that Jesus is the “Son of God”?

It means He shares the exact divine nature as God the Father. It was a claim to deity, not merely a title of honour.

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Useful External Links

https://www.biblegateway.com
https://www.gotquestions.org/is-Jesus-God.html
https://www.blueletterbible.org
https://www.desiringgod.org/topics/jesus-christ