Six Reasons Jesus is God
1) The Direct Statements Of Scripture Affirm That Jesus Is God:
- The opening verse of his (John's) gospel declares, "the Word (Jesus) was God." In John's gospel Jesus repeatedly assumed for Himself the divine name "I am" (cf. 4:26; 8:24; 28, 58; 13:9; 18:5, 6, 8). In John 10:30, He claimed to be one in nature and essence with the Father (that the unbelieving Jews recognized this as a claim to deity is clear from their reaction in v.33; cf. 5:18). Nor did Jesus correct Thomas when he addressed Him as "My Lord and my God!"(20:28); in fact, He praised him for his faith (v.29). Jesus' reaction is inexplicable if He were not God.
- To the Philippians Paul wrote, "(Jesus) existed in the form of God," possessing absolute "equality with God" (Phil. 2:6). In Colossians 2:9 he declared, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form." Romans 9:5 refers to Christ as "God blessed forever", Titus 2:13 and 2 Peter 1:1 call Him "our God and Savior." God the Father addressed the Son as God in Hebrews 1:8: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom." In his first epistle John referred to Jesus Christ as "the true God" (1 John 5:20).
2) Jesus Christ Receives Titles Elsewhere In Scripture Given To God:
- God and Jesus are both called Shepherd (Ps.23:1 - John 10:14); Judge (Gen.18:25 - 2 Tim. 4:1,8); Holy One (Isa. 10:20 - Ps. 16:10; Acts 2:27; 3:14); First and Last (Isa. 44:6; 48:12 - Rev. 1:17; 22:13); Light (Ps. 27:1 - John 8:12); Lord of the Sabbath (Ex. 16:23, 29; Lev. 19:3 - Matt. 12:8); Savior (Isa. 43:11 - Acts 4:12; Titus 2:13); Pierced One (Zech. 12:10 - John 19:37); Lord of lords (Deut. 10:17 - Rev. 17:14); Lord of glory (Ps. 24:10 - 1 Cor. 2:8); and Redeemer (Isa. 41:14; 48:17; 63:16 -Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:12).
3) Jesus Christ Possesses The Incommunicable Attributes Of God, Those Unique To Him:
- Scripture reveals Christ to be eternal (Mic. 5:2; Isa. 9:6), omnipresent (Matt. 18:20; 28:20), omniscient (Matt. 11:27; John 16:30; 21:17), omnipotent (Phil. 3:21), immutable (Heb. 13:8), sovereign (Matt. 28:18), and glorious (John 17:5; 1 Cor. 2:8; cf. Isa. 42:8; 48:11, where God states that He will not give His glory to another).
4) Jesus Christ Does The Works That Only God Can Do:
- He created all things (John 1:3; Col. 1:16), sustains the creation (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3), raises the dead (John 5:21; 11:25-44), forgives sin (Mark 2:10; cf. v.7), and His word stands forever (Matt. 24:35; cf. Isa. 40:8).
5) Jesus Christ Received Worship:
- Jesus received worship (Matt.14:33; 28:9; John 9:38; Phil. 2:10; Heb. 1:6) - even though He taught that only God is to be worshiped (Matt. 4:10). Scripture also records that both holy men (Acts 10:25-26) and holy angels (Rev. 22:8-9) refused worship.
6) Jesus Christ Received Prayer:
- Jesus received prayer, which is only to be addressed to God (John 14:13-14; Acts 7:59-60; 1 John 5:13-15).
Miscellaneous:
Check our these related articles that help to support the Divinity of the Messiah:
Acknowledgments:
1). All Notes (Except for things under Miscellaneous) for this page came from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary by John MacArthur John 1-11p.13-14. (Moody Press)
