Today’s question is, "Is Jesus God / Is the deity of Christ biblical?"
In this video I’ll answer that question from a biblical perspective.
Afterwards, as always, I’ll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.
In addition to Jesus’ specific claims about Himself, His disciples also acknowledged the
deity of Christ.
They claimed that Jesus had the right to forgive sins—something only God can do—as it is
God who is offended by sin (Acts 5:31).
In close connection with this last claim, Jesus is also said to be the one who will
“judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1).
Thomas cried out to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
(John 20:28).
Paul calls Jesus “great God and Savior” (Titus 2:13) and points out that prior to
His incarnation Jesus existed in the “form of God” (Philippians 2:5-8).
God the Father says regarding Jesus: “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever”
(Hebrews 1:8).
John states that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
[Jesus] was God” (John 1:1).
Examples of Scriptures that teach the deity of Christ are many but even one of these is
enough to show that Christ was considered to be God by His followers.
Jesus is also given titles that are unique to YHWH (the formal name of God) in the Old
Testament.
The Old Testament title “redeemer” is used of Jesus in the New Testament.
Jesus is called Immanuel—“God with us”—in Matthew 1.
In Zechariah 12:10, it is YHWH who says, “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.”
But the New Testament applies this to Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:37).
If it is YHWH who is pierced and looked upon, and Jesus was the one pierced and looked upon,
then Jesus is YHWH.
Paul interprets Isaiah 45:22-23 as applying to Jesus in Philippians 2:10-11.
Further, Jesus’ name is used alongside God’s in prayer “Grace and peace to you from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:3).
This would be blasphemy if Christ were not deity.
The name of Jesus appears with God's in Jesus' commanded to baptize “in the name [singular]
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
Actions that can be accomplished only by God are credited to Jesus.
Jesus not only raised the dead and forgave sins, He created and sustains the universe
(Colossians 1:16-17).
This becomes even clearer when one considers YHWH said He was alone during creation
(Isaiah 44:24).
Further, Christ possesses attributes that only deity can have: eternality (John 8:58),
omnipresence (Matthew 18:20), omniscience (Matthew 16:21), and omnipotence (John 11:38-44).
Now, it is one thing to claim to be God or to fool someone into believing it is true,
and something else entirely to prove it to be so.
Christ offered many miracles as proof of His claim to deity.
Just a few of Jesus' miracles include turning water to wine, walking on water, multiplying
physical objects, healing the blind, the lame, and the sick, and even raising people from
the dead.
Moreover, Christ Himself rose from the dead.
Far from the so-called dying and rising gods of pagan mythology, nothing like the resurrection
is seriously claimed by other religions, and no other claim has as much extra-scriptural
confirmation.
There are at least twelve historical facts about Jesus that even non-Christian critical
scholars will admit:
1.
Jesus died by crucifixion.
2.
He was buried.
3.
His death caused the disciples to despair and lose hope.
4.
Jesus' tomb was discovered (or was claimed to be discovered) to be empty a few days later.
5.
The disciples believed they experienced appearances of the risen Jesus.
6.
After this, the disciples were transformed from doubters into bold believers.
7.
This message was the center of preaching in the early Church.
8.
This message was preached in Jerusalem.
9.
As a result of this preaching, the Church was born and it grew.
10.
Resurrection day, Sunday, replaced the Sabbath (Saturday) as the primary day of worship.
11.
James, a skeptic, was converted when he also believed that he saw the resurrected Jesus.
12.
Paul, an enemy of Christianity, was converted by an experience which he believed to be an
appearance of the risen Jesus.
Even if someone were to object to this specific list, only a few are needed to prove the resurrection
and establish the gospel: Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and appearances.
While there may be some theories to explain one or two of the facts on that list, only
the resurrection explains and accounts for them all.
Critics admit that the disciples claimed they saw the risen Jesus.
Neither lies nor hallucinations can transform people the way the resurrection did.
First, what would they have had to gain?
Christianity was not popular and it certainly did not make them any money.
Second, liars do not make good martyrs.
There is no better explanation than the resurrection for the disciples’ willingness to die horrible
deaths for their faith.
Yes, many people die for lies that they think are true, but people do not die for what they
know is untrue.
In conclusion, Christ claimed He was YHWH, that He was deity (not just “a god” but
the one true God); His followers (Jews who would have been terrified of idolatry) believed
Him and referred to Him as God.
Christ proved His claims to deity through miracles, including the world-altering resurrection.
No other hypothesis can explain these facts.
Yes, the deity of Christ is biblical.
Want to learn more?
Subscribe so you don’t miss the next video!
Visit GotQuestions.org for more great content.
And check out the details section below this video, there is one book I recommend, along
with several related articles.
If you’d like to learn about Bible Munch, or if you’re interested in Bite-sized devotionals,
subscribe to Bible Munch on YouTube, it’s linked right here.
Now remember, Got questions?
The Bible has answers, and we’ll help you find them!