Is Jesus God? A Biblical Examination

The question of whether Jesus is God has profound implications for Christian faith and theology. The Bible provides ample evidence to affirm that Jesus is indeed fully God, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. This article explores the divinity of Jesus Christ by examining key scriptural passages and their theological significance.

1. Jesus’ Divine Nature in Scripture

a. Jesus is Called God

• John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
  • This passage unequivocally declares Jesus (the Word) as God, eternal and active in creation.
• John 20:28: Thomas addresses Jesus as “My Lord and my God!”
  • Jesus does not correct Thomas, affirming the truth of his declaration.

b. Jesus Possesses Divine Attributes

• Omniscience: Jesus knows all things. In John 16:30, the disciples confess, “Now we can see that you know all things.”
• Omnipotence: Jesus demonstrates power over nature, sickness, and death (Mark 4:39; John 11:43-44).
• Eternity: John 8:58: Jesus states, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” Using the divine name “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), Jesus claims eternal existence.

c. Jesus’ Role in Creation

• Colossians 1:16-17: “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
  • This passage identifies Jesus as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, roles attributed to God alone.

d. Jesus’ Authority to Forgive Sins

• Mark 2:5-7: Jesus forgives the sins of a paralyzed man, prompting the scribes to ask, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
  • Jesus’ authority to forgive sins demonstrates His divine nature.

2. Jesus’ Equality with the Father

a. Jesus Claims Equality with God

• John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.”
  • The Jews understood this as a claim to deity and sought to stone Him for blasphemy (John 10:33).
• John 5:18: Jesus’ claim that “God was his own Father” is interpreted as making Himself “equal with God.”

b. Worship of Jesus

• Matthew 28:17: After His resurrection, the disciples worshiped Jesus.
• Revelation 5:13-14: All creation worships Jesus, proclaiming, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!”
  • Worship is reserved for God alone, confirming Jesus’ deity.

c. Jesus’ Name and Authority

• Philippians 2:9-11: “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
  • This passage links Jesus with the divine name referenced in Isaiah 45:23.

3. Jesus’ Humanity and Divinity Together

a. The Incarnation

• John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
  • Jesus, while fully God, took on human nature to dwell among humanity.

b. Jesus’ Role as Mediator

• 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
  • As fully God and fully man, Jesus bridges the gap between God and humanity.

c. Jesus’ Obedience and Sacrifice

• Philippians 2:6-8: Jesus, “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.”
  • Jesus’ humility in taking on humanity underscores His dual nature.

4. The Significance of Jesus’ Divinity

a. Assurance of Salvation

• Only God could bear the infinite penalty for humanity’s sins. Jesus’ divine nature ensures the sufficiency of His atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 9:26).

b. Revelation of God

• John 14:9: Jesus says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
  • Jesus reveals the character and nature of God to humanity.

c. Victory Over Sin and Death

• Revelation 1:18: Jesus declares, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
  • Jesus’ divinity guarantees His victory over death, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Conclusion

The Bible overwhelmingly affirms that Jesus Christ is God. Through His divine attributes, works, and claims, Jesus is revealed as the eternal Word, the Creator, and the Savior. At the same time, He fully embraced humanity to redeem mankind. For believers, this truth is central to understanding the gospel and the depth of God’s love, as Jesus, both God and man, made the ultimate sacrifice to reconcile humanity to Himself. Worshiping Jesus as God is not only biblically grounded but essential to the Christian faith.