Jesus is God, A Defense of the Deity of Jesus Christ
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Jesus is God, A Defense of the Deity of Jesus Christ
Jesus is God, A Defense of the Deity of Jesus Christ
Who is God?
Who is God?
Who is God? “God is the true God of the Bible, the Creator of all things. (Revelation 4:11)
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The prophets Abraham and Moses worshipped him, as did Jesus.(Genesis 24:27; Exodus 15:1, 2; John 20:17) He is the God, not just of one people, but of ‘all the earth’ — Psalm 47:2,
2 For the Lord most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth.
The Bible makes no attempt to prove the existence of God. It is assumed to be self-evident. However, the Bible does reveal who God is. There are many gods discussed in scripture, but the scriptures emphatically declare that there is only one true God. We are first introduced to this one true God as the Creator God in Genesis 1:1,
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
We are told in Exodus 20 that we are to have no gods before Him (Exodus 20:3) and that He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). Jewish children are taught at an early age to remember the Shema prayer found in Deuteronomy 6:4, we see
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
Christianity is a monotheistic faith.
God has revealed Himself progressively throughout history. We are told that none other is to be bowed before or worshipped (Exodus 20:5). We are told that God forgives sin in Exodus 34:7. We are told that God is sitting on His throne and that the train of His robe/glory filled the temple in Isaiah 6:1. We are told that God is the Mighty God in Isaiah 10:21. Isaiah 42:8 declares that God will not share His glory with another. Psalm 102:24-27 tells us that God has laid the foundations of the earth. Others change, but God does not change, and his years have no end.
Therefore, we can conclude that only one who is the Creator of all things, who forgives sins, who is spoken of as sitting on the throne of God, who receives glory as God, who is specifically identified as God, who receives worship, who is also called the mighty God, who does not change, and who has no end must therefore be God. Jesus the Messiah meets all these criteria according to the scriptures.
Jesus is the Creator
Jesus is the Creator
Jesus, as God, is the Creator of all things as Genesis 1:1 says,
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Colossians 1:16-17 says that Jesus is the Creator of all things, not all other things. This clearly identifies Jesus the same role in Creation as God.
Jesus Forgives Sins
Jesus Forgives Sins
Jesus, as God, forgives sins.
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
The authority of Jesus as God is powerfully demonstrated in Mark 2:5-11,
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
This same account is given in Luke 5 and in Matthew 9. Only God can forgive sins based on the testimony of the Old Testament and based on the clear understanding of those who witnessed Jesus forgive sins. Jesus exercises his authority as God to forgive sins which results in onlookers accusing Him of blasphemy.
Jesus is Seated on the Throne of God
Jesus is Seated on the Throne of God
Jesus, as God, is recorded as being seated on the throne of God. Isaiah 6:1,
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Jesus Receives Glory as God
Jesus Receives Glory as God
Jesus, as God, is recorded as receiving glory as Jehovah. Isaiah 42:8 teaches that Jehovah does not share His glory with another:
8 I am the Lord: that is my name: And my glory will I not give to another, Neither my praise to graven images.
And yet John 17:5 records Jesus’ high priestly prayer where He says,
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Later, in that same prayer, Jesus is speaking to the Father of His desire for those that are His to witness His glory in the presence of the Father. John 12:24 says,
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
There is no contradiction here. God gives His glory to no one else, but Jesus is given glory because as the Father is God, the Son is God.
Jesus is the Mighty God
Jesus is the Mighty God
Jesus, as God, is called the Mighty God. In Isaiah 10:21, God is called the Mighty God: “Only a remnant will return, The remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.” Isaiah 9:6 attributes the same title to Jesus the Messiah: “For a child has been born to us, A son has been given to us; And the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” The Hebrew phrase is “אֵ֣ל גִּבֹּ֔ור” (transliterated: “El Gibor”). This is a clear attestation that Jesus is God.
Jesus is Identified as God
Jesus is Identified as God
Jesus, as God, is directly identified in the New Testament as God. Firstly, Jesus is identified as God in John 1:1 (KJV),
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus identifies Himself as Jehovah in John 8:24,
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
The same identification is made again in John 8:28,
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
The Greek phrase, “ἐγώ εἰμι” (transliterated: “ego emi”) is the same phrase found in the Greek version of the Old Testament when God tells Moses in Exodus 3:14,
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
The same phrase is used again by Jesus in John 18:5,
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
Jesus is identified by the Apostle Paul as Jehovah in Titus 2:13,
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Jesus is identified as God by the Apostle Thomas in John 20:28,
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus Receives Worship as God
Jesus Receives Worship as God
Jesus, as God received worship as God.
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The prophets Abraham and Moses worshipped him, as did Jesus. (Genesis 24:27; Exodus 15:1, 2; John 20:17)” Only God is to be worshipped. And in Matthew 2:11, 8:2, 9:18, 14:33, 15:9, 15:25, 20:20, 28:9, and 28:17, Jesus is worshipped.
Jesus Does Not Change and Has No End
Jesus Does Not Change and Has No End
Jesus, as God, does not change and has no end. Psalm 102:27 (NWT) says, “But you are the same, and your years will never end.” Malachi 3:6 (NWT) says, “For I am Jehovah; I do not change…” Likewise, Hebrews 1:8-12 (NWT) applies Psalm 102:25-27 directly to Jesus:
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: And the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, And thy years shall have no end.
The same author of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 13:8,
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Conclusion
Conclusion
At the beginning of this discussion, the following declaration was established:
We can conclude that only one who is the Creator of all things, who forgives sins, who is spoken of as sitting on the throne of God, who receives glory as God, who is specifically identified as God, who receives worship, who is also called the mighty God, who does not change, and who has no end must therefore be God. Jesus Christ meets all these criteria according to the scriptures.
The plethora of examples has properly demonstrated that Jesus meets all these criteria according to the scriptures and is God. What then are we to do? Having been presented with overwhelming evidence, you must be a Berean. Search the scriptures and determine for yourself if these things are so. Do not take my word for it. Upon validating the evidence the unbeliever must turn to Christ for salvation. He must confess that Jesus is God to the glory of God the Father. Fall at the feet of our great God and savior Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and salvation in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
