The question “Is Jesus God?” stands at the very heart of Christian faith. From the earliest centuries, believers have confessed that Jesus Christ is not merely a prophet, teacher, or moral example, but God Himself in human flesh. This article examines what the Bible says about the deity of Jesus Christ.
We will explore five key areas:
- Jesus is explicitly called God
- Jesus claimed equality with God
- Jesus possesses the attributes of God
- Jesus performs the works of God
- Jesus receives the worship due to God alone
1. Jesus Is Explicitly Called God
The Bible does not leave the identity of Jesus vague. Several passages directly refer to Jesus as God.
John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The “Word” is clearly identified as Jesus Christ. This passage declares both His eternal existence and His full deity, while also affirming His incarnation, God becoming man.
Titus 2:13 says, “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Here, Jesus is explicitly called “our great God and Savior.” No grammatical separation exists between God and Jesus in this verse, they are one and the same.
Hebrews 1:8 says, “But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.’”
God the Father directly addresses the Son as God, leaving no room for ambiguity.
2. Jesus Claimed Equality with God
Jesus not only accepted divine titles, He openly claimed equality with God.
John 10:30-33 says, “I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
The Jewish leaders clearly understood that Jesus was claiming deity. Their response, attempting to stone Him for blasphemy, confirms how unmistakable His claim was.
John 8:58 says,“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.’”
Here Jesus applies the divine name “I AM” (from Exodus 3:14) to Himself. This was an unmistakable claim to eternal, self-existent deity.
3. Jesus Possesses the Attributes of God
Only God possesses certain attributes by nature. Scripture shows that Jesus shares these fully.
Eternal Existence – “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1)
Omnipresence – “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20)
Omniscience – “But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men.” (John 2:24)
Immutability – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
These are not the traits of a created being, they are the attributes of God Himself.
4. Jesus Performs the Works of God
The Bible states repeatedly that Jesus does what only God can do.
Creation – “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (John 1:3)
Forgiveness of Sins – “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10)
Final Judgment – “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son.” (John 5:22)
Creation, forgiveness of sins, and final judgment belong exclusively to God, yet Jesus performs all three.
5. Jesus Receives Worship
Scripture is absolutely clear that only God may be worshiped (Exodus 20:3–5). Yet Jesus repeatedly receives worship without correction.
Matthew 14:33 says, “And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’”
John 20:28 says, “Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” Jesus does not rebuke Thomas. Instead, He accepts this confession of full deity.
Revelation 5:12–13 says,“saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
The Lamb (Jesus) receives the same eternal worship as God the Father.
The Full Biblical Picture: God in the Flesh
One of the clearest summary statements of Christ’s identity is found in 1 Timothy 3:16 which states, “He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
Jesus is God revealed in the flesh, fully God and fully man. This is the Doctrine of the Incarnation, where the eternal Son of God took on human nature without ceasing to be divine.
Final Thoughts: The Bible’s Answer Is Clear
Based on the direct statements, claims, attributes, works, and worship recorded in Scripture, the Bible presents a clear and consistent answer to the question: yes, Jesus is God. He is the eternal Word (John 1:1), the great God and Savior (Titus 2:13), the exact representation of God’s nature (Hebrews 1:3) and the rightful object of worship (Revelation 5:12–13)
Christianity does not teach merely that Jesus is like God, it boldly proclaims that Jesus Christ is God who became man for the salvation of the world.
John 14:6–7 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.’”
To know Jesus is to know God Himself.
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