SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE JESUS IS GOD
You are invited to open your Bible and consider these Ten Reasons.
"HEAR, O ISRAEL THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD"
(Deuteronomy 6:4)
"IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD AND
THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD...
AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US,
AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY..."
(John 1:1, 14)
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT...
There is ONLY ONE true and living God.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:28-32; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6)
| There is no god with Him | Deuteronomy 32:39 |
| There is no god above Him | Psalm 95:3 |
| There is no god after Him | Isaiah 43:10 |
| There is no god beside Him | Isaiah 45 5-6 |
| There is no one like Him | Isaiah 46:9 |
| There is no god before Him | Colossians 1:17 |
The Father is God.
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 63:16, 64:8
New Testament: Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Galatians 1:14; Ephesians 4:6
The Old Testament Hebrew word for God is plural, ("Elohim" Strong's #430). A plural word includes more than one, as in the plural words: family, team, partner. So, within the plural nature of God is more than one entity or person. Christians are baptised "In the name (singular) of
(1) the Father, and ofThese three share one singular name.
(2) the Son, and of
(3) the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19).
The Scriptures state:
Jesus existed before "He came down from Heaven" and was born of a woman. (See Micah 5:2; Matthew 22:42-45; John 6:38; 16:28; 17:5, 24).
"God was manifest in the flesh," (See 1 Timothy 3:16).
"Jesus is the image of the invisible God," (See Colossians 1:15.).
"In Jesus dwelled all the Fullness of the Godhead bodily," (See Colossians 2:9).
"Jesus, being the express image of His (God's) person." (See Hebrews 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4).
"Jesus, being in the form of God." (See Philippians 2:5-7).
Some People Believe Jesus Is God... 1. BECAUSE Jesus Christ was called God by:
| The Father | Hebrews 1:8-10 |
| Angels | Matthew 1:23 |
| Isaiah | 7:14, 9:6, 40:3 |
| Jeremiah | 23:5-6 |
| Malachi | 3 :1 |
| John | 1:1, 14; 1 John 5:7, 20 |
| Thomas | John 20:28 |
| Stephen | Acts 7:59 |
| Peter | 2 Peter 1:1 |
| Paul | Acts 20:28; Philippians 2.5-6; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 1:34, 2:10-13 |
| Jesus | Revelation 21:6-7 |
THEREFORE since "Every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses," (Matthew 18:16) the above witnesses, although only a representative grouping, compel us with the truth that Jesus is God. 2. BECAUSE...
| To know the Son is to know the Father, | John 8:19; 14:7 |
| To see the Son is to see the Father, | John 12:45; 14:7, 9 |
| To believe in the Son is to believe in the Father, | John 12:44, 14:1 |
| To honour the Son is to honour the Father, | John 5:23 |
| To hate the Son is to hate the Father, | John 15:23, 24 |
| To receive the Son is to receive the Father | Mark 9:37 |
| To deny the Son is to deny the Father, | 1 John 2:22-23 |
| To despise the Son is to despise the Father, | Luke 10:16 |
Life reproduces after its own kind; the son of man is a man; but the Son of God cannot be "a God," because there is only ONE God! THEREFORE, some believe the Son of God is God; that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, "These three are one" God, 1 John 5:7; John 10:30.
3. BECAUSE Jesus used God's personal name "I AM" for Himself... God in Exodus 3:13-15; 20:7; Isaiah 43:25; 48:12; 52:6; Jesus in John 8:24, 28, 58; 13: 19; 18:5-6; Revelation 1:18;. THEREFORE, many believe Jesus was claiming to be one and the same as the Old Testament "I AM," come in "the likeness of man." Philippians 2:7-8.
4. BECAUSE only God has certain rights, privileges and authority; YET Jesus "taught as one having authority," assumed God's rights as though they were rightfully His, and even altered God's commands!
God said "What ever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it, nor take away from it," Deuteronomy 12:32; 4:2; Revelation 22:18.
YET Jesus changed God's Law. The Scripture says "It is written... But I (Jesus) say to you..." Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44; John 8:51.
Only God is to be followed: 1 Samuel 12:20,
YET Jesus encouraged men to follow Him, Matthew 9:9, 19:28; John 8 12, 51.
Only God can forgive sins, Exodus 34:6-7, Isaiah 43:25.
YET Jesus also forgave sins, Matthew 9:2-6, Luke 5:20, 7:48; Colossians 3:13.
Only God can bestow the gift of eternal life, Romans 6:23, Titus 1:2, 1 John 5:11.
YET Jesus promised others eternal life, Luke 23:43, John 5:24, 6:47, 10:28; 1 John 2:25.
Only God is the Lord, Ephesians 4:5-6; Deuteronomy 6:4.
YET Jesus was addressed as "Lord" in the Scripture more than any other title, Jude 1:4; by Angels; Luke 2:11; by His disciples, John 13:13.
Only God is to be worshipped, Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8.
YET
the Gospels record 15 occasions when Jesus permitted men to worship Him:
| The wise men, | Matthew 2:11 |
| The leper | Matthew 8:2 |
| The ruler, | Matthew 9:18 |
| His disciples, | Matthew 14:33, 28:9,17 |
| The Canaanite woman, | Matthew 15:25 |
| The mother of James & John, | Matthew 20:20 |
| The blind man, | John 9:38 |
| The Angels were told to worship Him, | Hebrews 1:6 |
Jehovah God said "I am the LORD and my glory will I not give to another," Isaiah 42:8. The angels, Paul, Barnabas and Peter all adamantly refused men's worship. Herod was struck dead when people worshipped him because he did not give God the glory, Acts 12:21-23.
YET
Jesus, "who knew no sin," accepted worship and glory from men_and no
harm came to Him.
THEREFORE,
some conclude Jesus was rightfully entitled to worship and Glory
because He was "God manifest in the flesh," (1 Timothy 3:16).
5.
BECAUSE God possesses some divine, absolute attributes which cannot be
communicated to created beings, YET The Man, Jesus, also possessed them:
| Attribute | God | Jesus |
| Omnipresent | Jer. 23:24 | Matt. 28:19-20 |
| Omnipotent | Rev. 19:6 | Phil. 3:20 |
| Omniscient | Psalm 147:5 | John 13:19 |
| Sovereign | Is. 46:10-11 | Eph. 1:11 |
| Immortal | 1 Tim. 1:17 | Acts 13:35-37 |
| Eternal | Psalm 90:2 | Micah 5:2 |
| Immutable | Malachi 3:6 | Hebrews 13:8 |
TWO cannot possess the divine, absolute characteristics of God. One MUST come first and be over the rest - one must be THE Almighty.
YET
the man, Christ Jesus was said to possess God's absolute attributes.
THEREFORE,
some believe Jesus is God; that in Jesus "dwells All the fullness of
the Godhead bodily," Colossians 2:9. Contained in the nature of the ONE
True God are three distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son, and
God the Holy Spirit. That in God there is one What, but three Whos; one
It, but three I's.
6.
BECAUSE there can only be ONE Creator of ALL things - with ALL else
being creations of that Creator; YET both Jesus and God are credited
with the creation and preservation of ALL things. God Genesis 1:1;
Isaiah 44:24; 48:12-13; 1 Corinthians 11:12 Jesus John 1:3, 10;
Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:2 THEREFORE, since Genesis 1:1
establishes that God created ALL things; and John 1:3 establishes that
Jesus created ALL things, some believe that Jesus is God, for how could
the Creator of ALL things be created Himself? And if He is created,
then He is not God, for only God is not created.
7. BECAUSE God has no equal. YET Jesus implied He was equal with God. God Psalm 89:6; Isaiah 40:25, 46:5 Jesus John 5:18; 10:30-36; Philippians 2:6 The Jews attempted to kill/stone Jesus for
(a) making "Himself equal with God," John 5:18;THEREFORE, some conclude since it is impossible for a created human being to be equal with God, his Maker; that Jesus IS God since Jesus was equal with God. "Who being in the form of God, thought it not it robbery to be equal with God," Philippians 2:6.
(b) "because you, being a man, make yourself God," John 10:30-36.
8. BECAUSE Scripture states both God and Jesus will perform these actions:
| God | Jesus |
| Judge and reward men's works | |
| Isaiah 40:9-10; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 20:12-13 | Matthew 16:27; John 5:22; Revelation 22:12 |
| Return bringing the saints with Him | |
| Zechariah 14:5; Jude 14 | 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:14-16 |
| Reign forever | |
| Exodus 15:I8; Isaiah 52:7; Micah 4:7 | Luke 1:31-33; Romans 15:12 |
| Take Vengeance | |
| Deuteronomy 32:35;Psalm 94:1; Isaiah 35:4 | 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 |
THEREFORE, some conclude both must be God. 9. BECAUSE Old Testament quotations regarding the LORD Jehovah God are applied to the Lord Jesus Christ by New Testament authors.
| God | Jesus |
| Psalm 68:18 | Ephesians 4:8 |
| Psalm 102:24-27 | Hebrews 1:8-12 |
| Isaiah 6:1, 5 | John 12:41 |
| Isaiah 8:13-14 | 1 Peter 2:7-8 |
| Isaiah 40:3 | Matthew 3:3 |
| Isaiah 45:22-23 | Romans 14:10, Phil. 2:9-10 |
| Joel 2:32 | Romans 10:13 |
| Zechariah 12:1, 10 | John 19:36-37 |
| Numbers 21:5 | 1 Corinthians 10:9 |
Jesus and God's names appear to be used interchangeably in the Scripture at times. Various Old Testament prophecies clearly refer to actions the LORD Jehovah God will perform.
YET
New Testament writers state these prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus.
THEREFORE, some conclude the New Testament authors believed the LORD
Jehovah God of the Old Testament came to redeem man in the body of
Christ; that Jesus was God incarnate (made flesh; endowed with a human
body - Webster's Dictionary). "The Word became flesh and dwelt among
us..." John 1:14. 10. BECAUSE Jesus is called by God's titles:
| God | Jesus | Title |
| Psalm 83:18 | Acts 10:36 | Lord of ALL |
| Deut. 10:17 | Rev. 17 :14 | Lord of Lords |
| Isaiah 44:6 | Rev. 1:11,17-18 | First & Last |
| Isaiah 54:5 | Eph. 1:7 | Redeemer |
| Rev. 15:3,4 | Acts 3:14 | Holy One |
| Isaiah 45 :21-22 | Titus 2:10-13 | Saviour |
| Psalm 80:1 | John 10:11,14 | Shepherd |
| Isaiah 26:4 (Margin) | 1 Cor. 10:4 | Rock |
| 1 John 1:5 | John 1:7-9 | Light |
There can only be ONE First, ONE Last, ONE Lord over ALL, ONE Lord of Lords.
YET these titles are used of both Jesus and God. THEREFORE, some conclude "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself," 2 Corinthians 5 :19. SUMMARY
There is only ONE GodREGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND JESUS, SOME BELIEVE... "God" is a plural Hebrew word.
The Father is God.
The Hebrew Word for God (Elohim) is plural.
Jesus was the EXACT image of God.
Jesus preexisted.
Jesus is called God.
Jesus and the Father are One.
Jesus was and is equal with God.
Jesus used God's name "I AM."
Jesus assumed God's rights and authority.
Jesus and God are credited with creation.
Jesus and God both forgive sin.
Jesus has God's divine, unique attributes.
Jesus is called by God's titles.
Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies for God
Within the nature of the ONE true God exists THREE distinct persons.
There is but ONE God: the Father, Son and Spirit is each God; and the Father, Son and Spirit is each a distinct person.
ALL THREE are equal in power and glory.
ALL THREE have intelligence, will, emotion and expression, but different functions.
ALL THREE are co-essential, co-equal co-existent and co-eternal.
The Godhead is ONE plural, divine essence or substance existing in THREE distinct facets or persons. This is "The mystery of Godliness," (1 Timothy, 3:16).