QUESTION:
IS JESUS GOD?
ANSWER:
The Bible doesn’t merely suggest that Jesus is God—it proclaims it from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.
Exploring the Deity of Jesus Christ Through Scripture
The divinity of Jesus Christ is a cornerstone of Christian faith. It’s not merely a theological idea, but a life-transforming truth that determines whether or not one has a right understanding of salvation. Was Jesus just a good man? A great prophet? A moral teacher? Or was He truly God in the flesh?
This article aims to present clear and convincing biblical evidence for the deity of Jesus, His incarnation, His divine attributes, and the necessity of His Godhood in accomplishing our salvation. The answer to the question “Is Jesus God?” has eternal implications.
Old Testament Testimonies of the Deity of Christ
The deity of Jesus was not just a New Testament revelation. The Old Testament contained divine prophecies that pointed directly to the coming Messiah as eternal and divine.
1. Isaiah 9:6 – The Child Who Is God
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given… and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah does not merely describe a great ruler, but God Himself wrapped in human flesh. He is “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father”—titles that belong to Yahweh alone.
2. Micah 5:2 – The Eternal Ruler
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Jesus was not created. His origins are “from everlasting”—a phrase used only of God.
3. Psalm 45:6-7 – The Divine King
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”
This passage is directly applied to Jesus in Hebrews 1:8, confirming that the Son is addressed as God and is eternal.
Jesus Possesses the Attributes of God
To be God, one must possess all the attributes that belong only to God. The New Testament reveals that Jesus does indeed bear these attributes:
1. Eternality
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8
Jesus exists outside of time, never changing.
2. Omnipresence
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:20
Only God can be present everywhere at once.
3. Omniscience
“Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You.” – John 16:30
Jesus’ disciples recognized His perfect knowledge.
4. Omnipotence
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” – Matthew 28:18
Jesus holds all power in the universe.
5. Forgiveness of Sins
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins…” – Matthew 9:6
Only God can forgive sins. Jesus exercised this divine prerogative, and the people rightly recognized this as a claim to deity.
Jesus’ Direct Claims to Be God
Some skeptics argue that Jesus never explicitly claimed to be God. But a close reading of His words within the cultural and religious context of first-century Judaism makes it unmistakably clear.
1. “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58)
“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’”
Jesus used the divine name “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), and the Jews understood this as blasphemy and attempted to stone Him.
2. “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30)
“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him… saying, ‘Because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.’” – John 10:31-33
Jesus didn’t correct them because they understood Him correctly.
3. Accepting Worship
When Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” in John 20:28, Jesus did not rebuke him. He accepted worship multiple times:
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The healed blind man worshipped Him (John 9:38)
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The disciples worshipped Him after walking on water (Matthew 14:33)
No mere prophet or righteous man in the Bible ever accepted worship—but Jesus did.
4. Authority Over Judgment and Life
“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” – John 5:21
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.” – John 5:22
Judgment and the giving of life are divine prerogatives. Jesus claimed both.
The Necessity of Jesus’ Deity in Salvation
Why is it necessary that Jesus be God? Couldn’t a sinless man just die for our sins?
No. Here’s why:
1. Only God is Perfectly Righteous
“There is none righteous, no, not one.” – Romans 3:10
Only God is holy, pure, and without sin. Jesus was not just sinless—He was inherently holy because He was God.
2. Only God Can Bear the Infinite Penalty of Sin
Sin against an infinite, holy God requires an infinite payment. A finite creature cannot bear the eternal weight of sin.
3. Only God Can Reconcile Us to Himself
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…” – 2 Corinthians 5:19
God did not send a third party—He came Himself.
Jesus: The Only Way to God
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” – John 14:6
This is not arrogance—it is divine authority. Jesus is the only way because only He is both God and man, able to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. Do you honestly believe than a mere man, or even an angel, can reconcile man to God? Definitely no! It is only God, the Lord Jesus Christ, can do it!
Final Thought:
The Bible doesn’t merely suggest that Jesus is God—it proclaims it from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament pointed to His eternal nature and divine authority. The Gospels record His teachings, miracles, and direct claims to deity. The Epistles reaffirm His divine essence and redemptive work. The disciples worshiped Him. The demons trembled at Him. The Father testified about Him. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One who was and is and is to come, the Almighty (see Revelation 1:8).
To deny the deity of Jesus is to dismantle the Gospel itself. Because here is the ultimate truth:
If Jesus is not God, then we are not saved.
No mere man, no angel, no created being can bear the eternal weight of our sins. The blood that redeems us must be divine, perfect, and eternal. Only Jesus—fully God and fully man—had the power to offer such a sacrifice. Only His blood can take away the sin of the world.
As John the Baptist declared, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29
So we declare boldly and without hesitation:
Jesus is God. Jesus is Savior. Jesus is Lord.
