Who Is God?

Is Jesus God?  Many people will make the statement that Jesus never said that He was God.  While it is true that the Scriptures never record Him saying the exact words, “I am God”, words have less meaning than action.  Many people have claimed to be God or the son of God, be it ancient Egyptian Pharaohs or recent Japanese Emperors, but are in their graves.  Consider the following points and read the associated references for yourself to determine if Jesus is God.  Based on His claims, actions and interactions you decide the classic question of whether He is Lord, a liar or a lunatic.

Jesus claimed:

  • His glory and existence before the foundation of the world and before Abraham (John 17:5, 24; 8:58)
  • That He came from heaven (John 3:13)
  • Came from the Father and returned to the Father (John 16:27-28)
  • God as Father (John 5:17-18, 8:49 and many other places)
  • To be one with the Father (John 10:31, 14:10-11)
  • That if you’ve seen him, you’ve seen the father (John 14:9)
  • Title of Son of Man (Mark 14:61-64 and 80 other references; see Daniel 7:13-14 and Psalm 110:1 for significance of title, which explains the high priest’s reaction)
  • The title of Messiah and Son of God (Matthew 26:63-66)
  • The name of God (“I am”, John 8:48-58)
  • Authority over law/word and death (John 8:51)
  • That He has all power (Matthew 28:18)
  • That He searches the heart and mind (Revelation 2:23; notice the parallel to Jeremiah 17:10)
  • The power to judge (John 5:22,27)
  • That He was greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6)
  • That He was Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8)

Jesus acted by:

  • Reading thoughts (Matthew 9:1-4)
  • Forgiving sins (Matthew 9:1-4), which only God can do (Mark 2:5-12)
  • Demonstrating power over:
    • Death (John 5:21)
    • Sickness (John 5:1-9)
    • Nature (Matthew 14:25-33)
    • Objects – water/wine,  bread/fish
    • Tradition – Sabbath, ‘laws’

When Jesus interacted with others He:

  • Accepts worship (John 9:38, Matthew 28:17)
  • Receives the same honor as the Father (John 5:23)
  • Accepts being called the names of God (see below)
  • Doesn’t deny knowing all things (John 16:30)
  • Taught to baptize in His name (Matthew 28:19)
  • Showed His true nature at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-18; Luke 9:28-36)

His adversaries reacted by:

  • Threatened to kill Him for blasphemy (John 5:1-18, 8:59, 10:31, Mark 14:61-64)
  • Crucified for claiming to be Son of God (John 19:6-7)

With respect to eternal things He:

  • Rose from the dead (John 20:1-10)
  • Gives eternal life (John 5:26, John 10:28)
  • Receives spirit of the dying (Acts 7:59)
  • Sends the Spirit (John 15:26)

Others called Him:

  • Thomas: Lord and God (John 20:28-29), which He didn’t deny or correct
  • John: God…All things were made through him…became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1b, 3a, 14a)
  • Paul: Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)
  • Peter: The Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-17)
  • Paul: The Christ, who is God overall, blessed forever (Romans 9:5)
  • Paul: God, whose throne will last forever (Hebrews 1:8)
  • John: The Son who is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20)
  • Matthew: Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:22-23)
  • Paul: Man from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:44-49)
  • Paul: Creator of all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities (Colossians 1:16)
  • John: References Isaiah seeing Jesus in when he references seeing God in Isaiah 9 (John 12:41)
  • John: Alpha, Omega, First, Last, Beginning and End (Revelation 22:13)
  • Paul: References the Israelites putting “Christ to the test” hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth
  • Demons (for what their testimony is worth): The Holy One of God (Mark 1:21-28), Son of God (Mark 3:9-12) and Son of the Most High God (Mark 5:1:13)

In summary, Jesus has the attributes, offices, names and exercises the prerogatives of God because He is God.  The Apostle John described the Word existing in the beginning as God and then becoming flesh to dwell among us (John 1:1-18).  See this link for more verses about verses about Jesus’ divinity or read more proofs of Jesus deity.