One Minute Apologist: Does God Exist?Sýnishorn

Is Jesus God?

There is more confusion around the person of Jesus Christ than any other figure in human history. While most people readily accept that Jesus was a man, many will rage if you claim that He is more than a man

But was He? And if so, what’s the evidence?

First, Jesus understood himself to be divine. He claimed to be the eternal “I am” (compare Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58). He claimed equality with God (John 5:18; 10:30). He openly accepted worship (Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; Mark 5:6; John 9:38; 20:28). He forgave sin (Matthew 9:2; Luke 7:47-48; John 8:11). He even expected His disciples to pray in His name (John 14:13-14).

Second, the disciples believed Jesus was divine. Thomas called Him God (John 20:28). John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Matthew referred to Jesus as “Immanuel,” which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Paul wrote of Jesus, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9). And that is just a mere sampling.

Third, God the Father recognized the divinity of Christ. In Hebrews 1:8 we read, “But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.’” In this verse the Father calls Jesus, His Son, “God.” Pretty powerful!

Finally, the early church believed Jesus was divine. This is seen through their writings and creedal documents such as the Nicene and Chalcedonian Creeds. For example, the Chalcedonian Creed of AD 451 exclaims that Jesus is “truly God and truly man.” That is to say that He is one person with two natures: human and divine. He’s man and He’s more than a man. He’s the God-man.

That’s the story of Jesus, attested to by His disciples, the Father, and church history. It’s the story we affirm too, Christian.

Reflection

What’s at stake if we relegate Jesus to merely a man? .