THE DEITY OF JESUS -
IS JESUS CHRIST GOD?

          Is Jesus Christ God? Does it even matter whether He is? Does it matter what a person believes with regard to His deity?

          Historically, the church has held the belief that Jesus Christ is God, but in recent history many teachers, and groups have come to say that He isn't and, that it is really blasphemy to say that He is. However, it is not at all important what any teacher, church, or group says. What is important is what God has said in His Word.

          PRE-BIRTH EXISTENCE OF JESUS CHRIST.

          "Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Isa 44:6

          Jesus speaking, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Lk. 10:18 - There is NO mention of this being a vision!

          Jesus talking, "And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." Jn. 3:13 - Jesus, the 'Son of man,' was talking and saying that he is also in heaven.

          John talking about Jesus, "He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all." Jn. 3:31

          "Then Jesus said unto them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world." John 6:32-33

          Jesus speaking, "For I came down from heaven...." John 6:38

          Jesus talking, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven:" John 6:51

          Jesus talking, "What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?" John 6:62

           Paul speaking of the Jews led by Moses from Egypt through the Promised Land. "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." I Cor 10:4

           Jesus praying, "And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was." John 17:5

          "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Jn. 1:1,3,10

          "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

          "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest (made known) in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles (heathens, non-Jews), believed on in the world, received up into glory." I Tim 3:16

          "(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)" I John 1:2

          "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." I Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:15-18 Compare with Genesis 1:1 - God created!

          "God... Has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" Heb 1:2

          Jesus speaking, " Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him.... " John 8:56-59 God, in Exodus 3:14, told Moses to refer to God as "I AM." The Jews understood that Jesus meant that He lived when Abraham was (approximately 2,000 years earlier), and that He is I AM (God)... that is why they were trying to stone Him!

          "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Heb 2:9-10

          "For truly he took not on himself the nature of angels; but he took on himself the seed of Abraham." Heb 2:16

          Speaking of Adam - then of Jesus, " The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven." I Cor 15:47

           Jesus is named as the Word of God many times in the New Testament. A number of times in the Old Testament you can find where the prophets have said "The word of the Lord came unto me saying...."

NAMES OF GOD GIVEN TO JESUS CHRIST

          "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (in the Hebrew - means 'God with us')." Isa 7:14 - prophesy of Jesus' birth.

          "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Jn. 1:1

          "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isa 9:6

          ".... Jesus asked them, Saying, What do you think of Christ (Messiah)? Whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He said unto them, How then does David in the spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, You sit on my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?" Mat 22:41- 45; Mk. 12:35-37

          "And Thomas answered and said unto him (Jesus), My Lord and my God. Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:28,29 - If Jesus is the perfect and true prophet, sinless as described in the Bible He would have had to rebuke Thomas' confession of Him as God if Thomas was wrong, or He would have sinned by accepting God's title..... Unless, of course, He is God!

          "Truly my soul waits upon God: from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved." Ps 62:1,2

          "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior." Isa 43:11 - God says in the Old Testament that He is the only Savior, and there is none beside Him. Also, He only is our only salvation. Yet.... talking about "Jesus Christ of Nazareth"....Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:10,12

          Mary speaking, " And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." Luke 1:47

          "But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;" Titus 3:4,6

          There are twenty-four such references to both Jesus Christ and God as the Savior.

          "But unto the Son he said, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.... And, You, Lord, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands:" Heb 1:8,10 see Ps. 45 & Ps. 102

          "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.... ....Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev 1:8,17,18 - Rev. 22:13,16 - please re-read Is. 44:6 above.

          In the King James Version and many other versions there are words that are printed in italics to show that that word or words were not in the original Greek or Hebrew. These words were added to the English version to make it easier to read or understand. Sometimes it is much better to read such verses without the words that are printed in italics.

          The story of the betrayal and arrest of Jesus..... "Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom do you seek ? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them, I am he (he is printed in italics). And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he (italics), they went backward, and fell to the ground." John 18:3-6 - Why did they all fall down to the ground when He said, "I AM," if He isn't God?

          Only God Can Know Our Thoughts

II Chr.6:30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:) (Satan CANNOT read your mind!)

Jesus knew what people were thinking! Matt. 22:18; Mark 2:8; Luke 5:22, 6:8, 20:23

          THE EQUALITY OF JESUS AND GOD

           In the creation account the Hebrew word translated for God is Elohiym. Elohiym actually means more than one or a plurality of God.

          "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." 1 John 5:7 - The idea of three individual personalities comprising one total being is one which is argued by many, however, the Bible says that we have a spirit, soul, and a body which are separate yet together are one total being. - I Thess. 5:23. - also, many times Jesus spoke of us being in Him - He in us: The Father in Him - and He in the Father.

          "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" Phil 2:5-7

          "For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Col 2:9

          "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28

          "But Jesus answered them, My Father works here, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." John 5:17,18

          "The Jews answered him, saying, we don't stone you for a good work; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, make yourself God." John 10:33 - The Jews heard Jesus speak in their own language and knew exactly what He meant!

          God certainly doesn't have to repeat Himself to make a point, but when He does repeat a theme throughout His inspired Scriptures we should definitely take note!

          Now the big question is.... "Does it really matter whether we believe that Jesus Christ is God?

          Jesus speaking, "I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he (he is in italics!), ye shall die in your sins." John 8:24

          Jesus speaking, "And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcome shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Rev 21:6,7

          The question of the deity of Jesus Christ is one which helps to identify most cults. Almost all will teach that Jesus Christ is not God. Some teach that He may be a god, but not the God of Israel, the Creator, the One who took on our flesh in order to die for our sins!

         All true Christian churches believe, teach, and preach that Jesus is God!