Is Jesus God Himself?
Though today, the deity of Christ is a subject of debate among many cults, his claim of being God in flesh was universally accepted by the church during the first, second, and third centuries. Many, like Jehovah's Witnesses, deny the deity of Christ. Their primary argument is that Jesus never claimed to be God, while always distinguishing Himself from the Father. Of course the latter is true, He did distinguish himself from the Father. The former is not true. Jesus did make the claim to be God in the flesh. One of the most powerful examples is found in John 14:9, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" Jesus does not say that if you have seen Me you have seen someone "like" the Father as Jehovah witnesses claim, rather He states that you have seen the Father.
While John 14:9 gives us a very clear example of His claim, together the many subtle clues throughout the Bible give us complete assurance that Jesus is God in the flesh. For example, the Bible claims that God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9), that the Father raised Jesus from the dead (Galatians 1:1), that Jesus raised Himself from the dead (John 2:19) and that the Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead (Romans 8:11). The fact that so often the term Jesus and God are used interchangeably is another subtle clue into the nature of Jesus. The fact that both perform the very same functions which are reserved for God, such as forgiving sin, accepting worship, and creation, build on the reality that Jesus is God.
Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses claim that Jesus is not the Almighty God (capital G) but rather He is a god (lower case g) in order to make sense of some of the verses they encounter. And in fact, the Old Testament does make references to gods with a lowercase g. The problem is that in every instance, these so-called gods are referred to in a derogatory manner and as false gods. Never do we see the term used to refer to a legitimate claim to deity. Exodus 23:13 reminds us that, “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth. Deuteronomy 6:4 make it clear that there are no other Gods for He is one, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
Another strong argument for the deity of Christ is that the first century Jews who lived among Jesus and His followers understood that Jesus was making the claim to be equal with God. In John 5:18 it states that the Jews sought to kill Him because He made Himself equal to God. This is a group of Hebrew scholars who not only had a good understanding of the scriptures, but had very authentic Hebrew translations. Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna at the end of the first century and was discipled by the apostle John. He, among others makes references to Jesus as God in his writings. It's hard to imagine that Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons have a better grasp of the scriptures than those in the first and second century.
The toughest challenge that the Christian has can be found in Mark 13:32 where Jesus is speaking of the Great Tribulation “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Here He is admitting that the Father has some information that He does not, putting the greatest distance between the two. Theologians have explained this and other verses by pointing to the fact that as a human and a child, Jesus was drained of His heavenly wisdom and had to pursue knowledge through prayer and learning. Below are a list of Bible verse which, taken together, point to the unmistakable truth that Jesus is God in the flesh.
Was He Just a Son of God or God Himself?
Jesus’ Self-Understanding
How Others in the First and Second Century saw Jesus
Below are some writings of early church fathers and their understanding of Jesus. This is important because they were either discipled by the apostles or had first hand knowledge from the first century church of Jesus and his claim to deity.
Who is Jesus?
Jesus of Nazareth, the man, had a role to fill when He appeared on earth. As messiah, He lived under Jewish law, and as a man He ate, prayed, studied, and wept. But after His resurrection, all authority was given to Him in Heaven and Earth and He took on a different role. Here are some verses in Scripture that make reference to Jesus today.
Articles
The Apologetics of Jesus: A Defense of His Deity Patrick Zukeran
Twenty Reasons Christians Believe Jesus is God Charlie Cambell
Jesus: Truly God and Truly Human Brad Bromling
While John 14:9 gives us a very clear example of His claim, together the many subtle clues throughout the Bible give us complete assurance that Jesus is God in the flesh. For example, the Bible claims that God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9), that the Father raised Jesus from the dead (Galatians 1:1), that Jesus raised Himself from the dead (John 2:19) and that the Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead (Romans 8:11). The fact that so often the term Jesus and God are used interchangeably is another subtle clue into the nature of Jesus. The fact that both perform the very same functions which are reserved for God, such as forgiving sin, accepting worship, and creation, build on the reality that Jesus is God.
Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses claim that Jesus is not the Almighty God (capital G) but rather He is a god (lower case g) in order to make sense of some of the verses they encounter. And in fact, the Old Testament does make references to gods with a lowercase g. The problem is that in every instance, these so-called gods are referred to in a derogatory manner and as false gods. Never do we see the term used to refer to a legitimate claim to deity. Exodus 23:13 reminds us that, “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth. Deuteronomy 6:4 make it clear that there are no other Gods for He is one, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
Another strong argument for the deity of Christ is that the first century Jews who lived among Jesus and His followers understood that Jesus was making the claim to be equal with God. In John 5:18 it states that the Jews sought to kill Him because He made Himself equal to God. This is a group of Hebrew scholars who not only had a good understanding of the scriptures, but had very authentic Hebrew translations. Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna at the end of the first century and was discipled by the apostle John. He, among others makes references to Jesus as God in his writings. It's hard to imagine that Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons have a better grasp of the scriptures than those in the first and second century.
The toughest challenge that the Christian has can be found in Mark 13:32 where Jesus is speaking of the Great Tribulation “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Here He is admitting that the Father has some information that He does not, putting the greatest distance between the two. Theologians have explained this and other verses by pointing to the fact that as a human and a child, Jesus was drained of His heavenly wisdom and had to pursue knowledge through prayer and learning. Below are a list of Bible verse which, taken together, point to the unmistakable truth that Jesus is God in the flesh.
Was He Just a Son of God or God Himself?
- First century Jews knew His sayings made Him equal with God. “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?’ The Jews answered Him, saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God” (John 10:31-33).
- “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God" (John 5:18).
- Jesus assumed priestly functions, declaring people clean Mark 1:41; and forgiven Mark 2:5; Luke 7:47 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7)
- Jesus accepts worship (Mathew 28:9; John 12:12-15).
- Jesus claims to be without sin. He challenges His accusers to find any fault in Him (John 8:46).
- John saw Jesus as the Word made flesh, God incarnate (John 1:1; 14).
- Thomas gets it, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
- “God” and “Savior Jesus Christ” are used interchangeably (Titus 2:13).
- “God was manifested in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16).
Jesus’ Self-Understanding
- Jesus claims to be without sin. He challenges His accusers to find any fault in Him (John 8:46). Only God is holy and sinless. “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God (1 Samuel 2:2).
- Jesus clearly accepted the major tenets of the Jewish faith and the authority of the Torah.
- Jesus is one with the Father – “I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
- Jesus fulfills the Mosaic covenant – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18).
- Jesus is the fulfillment of prophesy – He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself (Luke 24:25). Referring to Isaiah 61:1-2 Jesus states, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:14-21).
- Jesus saw Himself as a prophet (Mark 12:1-11).
- Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of Man,” clearly alluding to Daniel, chapter 7. This was one of Jesus’ favored self-designations; He considered Himself as one who is coming to restore and establish the Kingdom of God.
- Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and the disciples refer to Him as such. The “Son of David” was a clear Messianic designation (Mark 8:29-30).
- Jesus believed He was God. In John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." referencing Exodus 3:13-14.
- Jesus claimed to be the only way to God. “I am the way, truth, and life" (John 14:6).
- Jesus performs miracles (Mt 4:23-24; Mt 8:1-4; Mt 8:14-15; Mt 8:23-27; Mt 9:2-8).
How Others in the First and Second Century saw Jesus
Below are some writings of early church fathers and their understanding of Jesus. This is important because they were either discipled by the apostles or had first hand knowledge from the first century church of Jesus and his claim to deity.
- Ignatius, the leader of the church in Antioch, who died as a martyr in the Coliseum in 110 A.D. repeatedly refers to Jesus as God.
- Polycarp lived from 69-155 A.D., and was bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of the apostle John. He writes, “Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the High Priest himself, the [Son of] God Jesus Christ, build you up in faith.”
- Irenaeus, who lived from 125-200 A.D., wrote, “For with him were always present the Word and Wisdom, the Son and the Spirit, by whom and in whom, freely and spontaneously, He made all things, to whom He speaks saying, ‘Let us make man after our image and likeness.’”
- Justin Martyr lived from 110-166 A.D. and was a great Christian early church apologist; he writes, “Our Christ conversed with Moses under the appearance of fire from a bush.” He refers to Christ as the “Angel and Apostle,” “Who is also God,” yea “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” and “the I AM that I AM.”
Who is Jesus?
Jesus of Nazareth, the man, had a role to fill when He appeared on earth. As messiah, He lived under Jewish law, and as a man He ate, prayed, studied, and wept. But after His resurrection, all authority was given to Him in Heaven and Earth and He took on a different role. Here are some verses in Scripture that make reference to Jesus today.
- And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand (John 10:28).
- So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19).
- Who is He who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us (Romans 8:34).
- For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrew 4:15).
- Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me (Revelations 3:20).
- Now I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war (Revelations 19:11).
Articles
The Apologetics of Jesus: A Defense of His Deity Patrick Zukeran
Twenty Reasons Christians Believe Jesus is God Charlie Cambell
Jesus: Truly God and Truly Human Brad Bromling