7 Reasons Jesus is God
There are many people that do not believe Jesus is God. Some accept Jesus as the Messiah, however, they deny the divinity of Jesus. Many Jews today deny the divinity of Jesus, while Messianic Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah. In light of the different views held in society today, we will attempt to shed some light on the issue.
Because the idea and concept of God is religious in nature, we will look to the Bible to find our answers, which is widely accepted as Gods word and has been for thousands of years. Here are seven reasons why I believe that Jesus is God.
1. Names of Jesus in the Bible. Emmanuel and the Word.
There are many names for Christ in the Bible. Those names used to represent Christ tell us about Jesus. Matthew chapter 1, verse 23, uses the name Emmanuel for Messiah, Jesus Christ. Here the familiar Christmas story we all know is told as Mary, the Virgin mother of Christ, is told she will have a child that will save the world. She is told to name her child Emmanuel - meaning God with us. It is very clear here that Emmanuel is revealed as God.
Matthew 1:23 KJV
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
In the book of John we see that Jesus is called the "Word". This "Word", Jesus, is the Creator of the world and of all things. This Word, Jesus Christ, was "made flesh and dwelt among men". The life record of Jesus Christ, His life and His resurrection is well known by Christianity and many non-Christians alike. It is this Jesus Christ, the Messiah, that the apostle John, an eyewitness to Jesus' life, writes and records is God the Creator and the Savior of humanity.
John 1:1-3, 10-12, 14 KJV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 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.
2. Jesus' acts of authority in the Bible. Jesus demonstrated authority over the natural elements and the supernatural.
In the book of John Jesus demonstrates His authority over the physical elements of nature. Jesus was witnessed walking on the sea, a clear indication of authority over the elements of nature. But not only did Jesus exercise authority over nature, but He also demonstrated authority over time itself as recorded by John's statement, "and immediately the ship was at the land". So not only did Jesus walk on water, but Jesus exercised authority over time itself, witnessed by the Johns observation - the boat, being at sea, was immediately and supernaturally transported to land. John further supports his eye witness account of the event by recording that there was only one boat on the shore and that other people, besides himself, witnessed that the disciples boarded that boat without Jesus. Therefore, Jesus could only arrive at the other side if John's account of the event was true.
John 6:17-22 KJV
And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone.
In the book of Mark we read about Jesus' authority over unclean spirits, or demonic fallen angels. It is important to note that even the fallen angel that was troubling the man recognized Jesus as the "Holy One of God". The fallen angel demon asked Jesus if He was going to destroy him. Only God has the authority to punish fallen angels; a clear indication that even the supernatural world recognizes Jesus as God.
Mark 1:23-27 KJV
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. This punishment of the fallen angels is seen in the book of Revelation.
3. Jesus' authority over eternal rewards and punishment.
Matthew 25:40-41, 46 KJV
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
The King here spoken of is recognized by Biblical scholars as Christ, the King that will rule this world after defeating the kingdoms and nations of this world as predicted by Daniels prophetic dream. Only God has the authority and power to punish the devil and the angels that follow him. Additionally, only God can give eternal life to the righteous because only God has immortality within Him; immortal by nature. So the King, which is Jesus Christ, is God, whom executes the punishment of the lost and the reward of the saved.
4. Jesus' creative and restorative power.
In the Bible book of John that Jesus demonstrated His most restorative and creative act, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. It is in that act that Jesus gives us a glimpse of the creative power that He will soon exercise when He calls all the dead back to life at His return - the righteous to life everlasting and the lost to eternal death and separation from God. Only God Has power to create life as seen in the record of creation, therefore, Jesus demonstrates He is God through restoring life and body to Lazarus.
John 11:43-44 KJV
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
5. Jesus' authority to forgive sins.
In the book of Luke we see the faithful Doctor turned writer records Jesus exercising the authority to forgive sins. In Israel it was common knowledge that only God can forgive sin and pardon the sinner from the condemnation of the Law of God, the Ten Commandments. This makes sense because only the author of the divine law can adjudicate the transgressor of the law, and that author is Jesus, and Jesus is God. Additionally, Jesus also demonstrates the power to know a persons thoughts - after listening to the Pharisee's thoughts, Jesus addresses the Pharisee's concerns and doubts audibly, thus demonstrating He is God. What the Pharisee thought was secret thoughts only known to himself, Jesus Christ knew, and revealed that knowledge to him. (see psalms chapter 44, verse 21 - shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Also, Psalms chapter 139, verse 23 - Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.
Luke 7:37-39, 44, 47-50 KJV
And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
6. Jesus' authority over His own life and death.
Jesus Christ made it clear that He would lay down His life and He would take up His life again. It was not taken from Him - Jesus voluntarily gave His life for all humanity, for all men and women. It is this power over His own life, death and resurrection that clearly testifies that Jesus was God. We all should be in awe of such a sacrifice and we should not let this gift pass us by without our acceptance. We all need Jesus' gift of His sacrifice for our sins so we can enter heaven and spend eternity in Gods presence.
John 10:17-18 KJV
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
7. Jesus claimed to be God.
In John it is important to note that even Jesus Himself claimed to be God. Jesus is the one who gives eternal life and says that nobody can remove those that are saved from His hand. Jesus then adds the same statement about God the Father - that nobody can remove the saved from His hand. So, essentially Jesus claims to be God and makes a direct parallel comparison between the power of God the Fathers hand and Jesus' hand, that nobody can remove the saved from either of their hands. The Jews present clearly understood Jesus' claim of divinity - it is that claim of divinity, claim of being God, that the Jews present wanted to kill Him.
John 10:28-30 KJV
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.
There it is, the 7 reasons why Jesus is God. This list of 7 reason is obviously not exhaustive. There are many more reasons why Jesus can be shown to be God, however these 7, when considered together as a whole, are sufficient to demonstrate Jesus' divinity.
Tags: jesus, God, messiah, Emmanuel, jesus Christ, life death
There are many people that do not believe Jesus is God. Some accept Jesus as the Messiah, however, they deny the divinity of Jesus. Many Jews today deny the divinity of Jesus, while Messianic Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah. In light of the different views held in society today, we will attempt to shed some light on the issue.
Because the idea and concept of God is religious in nature, we will look to the Bible to find our answers, which is widely accepted as Gods word and has been for thousands of years. Here are seven reasons why I believe that Jesus is God.
1. Names of Jesus in the Bible. Emmanuel and the Word.
There are many names for Christ in the Bible. Those names used to represent Christ tell us about Jesus. Matthew chapter 1, verse 23, uses the name Emmanuel for Messiah, Jesus Christ. Here the familiar Christmas story we all know is told as Mary, the Virgin mother of Christ, is told she will have a child that will save the world. She is told to name her child Emmanuel - meaning God with us. It is very clear here that Emmanuel is revealed as God.
Matthew 1:23 KJV
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
In the book of John we see that Jesus is called the "Word". This "Word", Jesus, is the Creator of the world and of all things. This Word, Jesus Christ, was "made flesh and dwelt among men". The life record of Jesus Christ, His life and His resurrection is well known by Christianity and many non-Christians alike. It is this Jesus Christ, the Messiah, that the apostle John, an eyewitness to Jesus' life, writes and records is God the Creator and the Savior of humanity.
John 1:1-3, 10-12, 14 KJV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 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.
2. Jesus' acts of authority in the Bible. Jesus demonstrated authority over the natural elements and the supernatural.
In the book of John Jesus demonstrates His authority over the physical elements of nature. Jesus was witnessed walking on the sea, a clear indication of authority over the elements of nature. But not only did Jesus exercise authority over nature, but He also demonstrated authority over time itself as recorded by John's statement, "and immediately the ship was at the land". So not only did Jesus walk on water, but Jesus exercised authority over time itself, witnessed by the Johns observation - the boat, being at sea, was immediately and supernaturally transported to land. John further supports his eye witness account of the event by recording that there was only one boat on the shore and that other people, besides himself, witnessed that the disciples boarded that boat without Jesus. Therefore, Jesus could only arrive at the other side if John's account of the event was true.
John 6:17-22 KJV
And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone.
In the book of Mark we read about Jesus' authority over unclean spirits, or demonic fallen angels. It is important to note that even the fallen angel that was troubling the man recognized Jesus as the "Holy One of God". The fallen angel demon asked Jesus if He was going to destroy him. Only God has the authority to punish fallen angels; a clear indication that even the supernatural world recognizes Jesus as God.
Mark 1:23-27 KJV
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. This punishment of the fallen angels is seen in the book of Revelation.
3. Jesus' authority over eternal rewards and punishment.
Matthew 25:40-41, 46 KJV
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
The King here spoken of is recognized by Biblical scholars as Christ, the King that will rule this world after defeating the kingdoms and nations of this world as predicted by Daniels prophetic dream. Only God has the authority and power to punish the devil and the angels that follow him. Additionally, only God can give eternal life to the righteous because only God has immortality within Him; immortal by nature. So the King, which is Jesus Christ, is God, whom executes the punishment of the lost and the reward of the saved.
4. Jesus' creative and restorative power.
In the Bible book of John that Jesus demonstrated His most restorative and creative act, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. It is in that act that Jesus gives us a glimpse of the creative power that He will soon exercise when He calls all the dead back to life at His return - the righteous to life everlasting and the lost to eternal death and separation from God. Only God Has power to create life as seen in the record of creation, therefore, Jesus demonstrates He is God through restoring life and body to Lazarus.
John 11:43-44 KJV
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
5. Jesus' authority to forgive sins.
In the book of Luke we see the faithful Doctor turned writer records Jesus exercising the authority to forgive sins. In Israel it was common knowledge that only God can forgive sin and pardon the sinner from the condemnation of the Law of God, the Ten Commandments. This makes sense because only the author of the divine law can adjudicate the transgressor of the law, and that author is Jesus, and Jesus is God. Additionally, Jesus also demonstrates the power to know a persons thoughts - after listening to the Pharisee's thoughts, Jesus addresses the Pharisee's concerns and doubts audibly, thus demonstrating He is God. What the Pharisee thought was secret thoughts only known to himself, Jesus Christ knew, and revealed that knowledge to him. (see psalms chapter 44, verse 21 - shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Also, Psalms chapter 139, verse 23 - Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.
Luke 7:37-39, 44, 47-50 KJV
And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
6. Jesus' authority over His own life and death.
Jesus Christ made it clear that He would lay down His life and He would take up His life again. It was not taken from Him - Jesus voluntarily gave His life for all humanity, for all men and women. It is this power over His own life, death and resurrection that clearly testifies that Jesus was God. We all should be in awe of such a sacrifice and we should not let this gift pass us by without our acceptance. We all need Jesus' gift of His sacrifice for our sins so we can enter heaven and spend eternity in Gods presence.
John 10:17-18 KJV
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
7. Jesus claimed to be God.
In John it is important to note that even Jesus Himself claimed to be God. Jesus is the one who gives eternal life and says that nobody can remove those that are saved from His hand. Jesus then adds the same statement about God the Father - that nobody can remove the saved from His hand. So, essentially Jesus claims to be God and makes a direct parallel comparison between the power of God the Fathers hand and Jesus' hand, that nobody can remove the saved from either of their hands. The Jews present clearly understood Jesus' claim of divinity - it is that claim of divinity, claim of being God, that the Jews present wanted to kill Him.
John 10:28-30 KJV
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.
There it is, the 7 reasons why Jesus is God. This list of 7 reason is obviously not exhaustive. There are many more reasons why Jesus can be shown to be God, however these 7, when considered together as a whole, are sufficient to demonstrate Jesus' divinity.
Tags: jesus, God, messiah, Emmanuel, jesus Christ, life death
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