Is Jesus God?

If you have ever wondered whether Jesus is actually God, you are asking one of the most important questions Christianity answers.

The Bible does not present Jesus as simply a good teacher, a prophet or a man who was especially close to God. Scripture teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, that He existed before His birth in Bethlehem, that He created all things, that He has the fullness of God’s nature and that He deserves the honour and worship that belong to God.

Jesus also made some very direct statements about who He is. One of the clearest is found in the Gospel of John when Jesus said, “I and my Father are one.”

At the same time, the Bible clearly shows that Jesus and the Father are distinct from one another. Jesus prayed to the Father, spoke about the Father and was sent by the Father.

So how can Jesus be God while also being the Son of God and distinct from the Father?

This is where the biblical teaching about the Trinity helps us understand what Scripture is saying. There is one God, and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct from one another while sharing the one divine nature.

We cannot completely explain everything about God, but we can look carefully at what the Bible tells us about Jesus.

Jesus Said, “I and My Father Are One”

If we want to understand whether Jesus is God, we should begin with Jesus’ own words.

John 10:30 — “I and My Father Are One”

“I and my Father are one.”

This is one of the clearest statements Jesus made about His relationship with the Father.

Jesus did not say that He was simply a messenger from God or that He agreed with God more than anyone else. He said, “I and my Father are one.”

The response of the people who heard Him shows that they understood the seriousness of what He was saying.

John 10:31–33 — The Jews Accused Jesus of Blasphemy

“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”

The people who heard Jesus understood His statement as a claim to divine identity.

They accused Him of blasphemy because they believed He was making Himself God.

Jesus did not respond by saying, “You have misunderstood me. I am only a man.”

Instead, He continued explaining His relationship with the Father.

This is why John 10:30 is so important when answering the question, “Is Jesus God?”

Jesus Himself said, “I and my Father are one.”

Jesus Is God, but Jesus Is Not the Father

This is where the Trinity can sometimes become confusing.

When Christians say that Jesus is God, we are not saying that Jesus is the Father.

The Bible clearly distinguishes the Father and the Son.

Jesus prayed to the Father. The Father sent the Son. The Son returned to the Father. Yet Jesus also said that He and the Father are one.

John 17:1 — Jesus Prayed to the Father

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:”

Jesus was genuinely speaking to the Father.

The Father and the Son are therefore distinct, but this does not mean that Jesus is less than God.

This is part of what Christians mean when they speak about the Trinity.

The Bible Says There Is One God

Christianity does not teach that there are three separate gods.

The Bible consistently teaches that there is one God.

Deuteronomy 6:4 — There Is One God

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”

The Father is God.

The Son is God.

The Holy Spirit is God.

Yet the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father.

There is one God, not three gods.

This is not something we can completely explain using a simple human analogy, but it is what Scripture teaches when all of its passages about God are taken together.

Jesus Was God Before He Became Man

Jesus did not begin to exist when He was born in Bethlehem.

The Bible teaches that He existed before His birth and was with the Father before the world was created.

John 1:1 — The Word Was God

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John tells us two things at the same time.

The Word was with God, showing a distinction, and the Word was God, showing His divine nature.

A few verses later, John explains who this Word is.

John 1:14 — The Word Became Flesh

“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.”

The Word who was with God and was God became flesh.

This is Jesus.

Jesus’ birth was therefore not the beginning of His existence. The eternal Son of God came into the world and became human.

Jesus Existed Before Abraham

Jesus also made it clear that He existed before Abraham.

John 8:58 — “Before Abraham Was, I Am”

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Abraham lived many centuries before Jesus was born.

Jesus did not simply say that He existed before Abraham. He used the words “I am,” which point back to the name God revealed to Moses.

Exodus 3:14 — God Reveals His Name

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

Jesus was making a significant claim about His identity.

His listeners understood the seriousness of His words, which is why this statement caused such a strong reaction.

Jesus Created All Things

The Bible also teaches that Jesus was involved in the creation of everything that exists.

John 1:3 — All Things Were Made Through Him

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

John says that everything that was made was made through Him.

Jesus is therefore not presented as part of God’s creation.

He is presented as the One through whom creation came into existence.

Colossians 1:16–17 — All Things Were Created by Him

“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.”

Jesus is before all things, and all things were created by Him and for Him.

That is far beyond the description of an ordinary human being.

Jesus Is Directly Called God

The Bible does not only imply Jesus’ divinity. There are places where Jesus is directly identified as God.

One of the clearest examples occurs after Jesus’ resurrection.

John 20:28 — Thomas Called Jesus “My Lord and My God”

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

Thomas saw the risen Jesus and responded by calling Him “my Lord and my God.”

Jesus did not correct Thomas or tell him that he had said something inappropriate.

Instead, Jesus responded to Thomas’ belief.

John 20:29 — Jesus Responded to Thomas

“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

John then explains why he recorded these events.

Believe That Jesus Is the Son of God – John 20:31

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

John wanted people to understand who Jesus really is and to believe in Him.

The Father Calls the Son “God”

The book of Hebrews gives us another very direct statement.

Hebrews 1:8 — The Son Is Called God

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”

The Father is speaking about the Son, and the Son is addressed as “O God.”

This is significant because it shows that the New Testament does not present Jesus’ divinity as something Christians invented later.

The Son is spoken of as God within Scripture itself.

Jesus Has the Fullness of God

Paul makes this even clearer in his letter to the Colossians.

Colossians 2:9 — The Fullness of the Godhead Dwells in Christ

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

Jesus is not described as being partly divine or merely having some special connection to God.

Paul says that the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily.

Jesus is fully God.

Jesus Reveals the Father

He is distinct from the Father, but He perfectly reveals Him.

John 14:9 — “He That Hath Seen Me Hath Seen the Father”

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

Jesus was not saying that He and the Father are the same person.

He was explaining that He reveals the Father perfectly.

When we look at Jesus, we see God’s character and nature revealed to us in a way that we could never discover for ourselves.

Jesus Was Fully Human as Well as Fully God

Jesus being God does not mean He was not truly human.

When Jesus came into the world, He really became a man. He was born as a baby, grew up, became tired and hungry, experienced sadness and pain, and eventually died on the cross.

Jesus experienced the realities of human life while still being fully God. He did not simply appear to be human. He came into the world and lived among us as a real man.

Philippians 2:6–8 — Jesus Took the Form of a Servant

“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:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Jesus willingly humbled Himself and came into the world in human form.

He experienced what it was like to live as a human being, yet He remained who He had always been.

This is one of the most amazing truths about Jesus. The eternal Son of God came into the world, lived among us and willingly gave His life for us.

Jesus Forgave Sins

Jesus also exercised authority that belongs to God.

He forgave sins.

Mark 2:5–7 — Jesus Forgives Sins

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?”

The scribes understood the significance of what Jesus had done.

They asked, “who can forgive sins but God only?”

Jesus then healed the man to demonstrate that He had authority to forgive sins.

He was not simply telling the man that God had forgiven him.

Jesus Himself pronounced forgiveness.

Jesus Received Worship

The Bible teaches that worship belongs to God, yet Jesus received worship from His followers.

Matthew 14:33 — The Disciples Worshipped Jesus

“Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”

The disciples worshipped Jesus and recognised Him as the Son of God.

Jesus did not tell them that they were worshipping the wrong person.

This is important because the Bible consistently teaches that created beings should not receive the worship that belongs to God.

Jesus Is Worthy of the Same Honour as the Father

Jesus made another remarkable statement about the honour He deserves.

John 5:23 — Honour the Son as You Honour the Father

“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”

Jesus said that people should honour the Son as they honour the Father.

This is an extraordinary statement.

Jesus was not asking people to give Him the respect they would give a good teacher.

He was claiming an honour that belongs to God.

Jesus Has Authority to Give Life and Judge

Jesus also has authority over life and judgment.

John 5:21–22 — The Son Gives Life and Judges

“For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”

The Son gives life and has been given authority to judge.

These are not ordinary human abilities.

They show us the unique authority Jesus possesses.

Jesus and the Father Are One

When all of these passages are put together, John 10:30 becomes even more significant.

John 10:30 — “I and My Father Are One”

“I and my Father are one.”

Jesus is not the Father.

The Father and the Son are distinct.

But Jesus is fully God, and He is one with the Father in a way that no ordinary human being could ever be.

This is why the Christian understanding of the Trinity is so important.

There is one God, yet the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct persons.

The Bible does not teach three gods.

It also does not teach that the Father simply changed into Jesus.

It teaches that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God, while there is only one God.

Why Does It Matter That Jesus Is God?

This is not simply a theological question.

It matters because the Christian faith is built around Jesus.

If Jesus were only a man, then Christians would ultimately be placing their eternal hope in another human being.

But if Jesus is God who came into the world to save us, then His death, resurrection, promises and authority have eternal significance.

Jesus did not come simply to give us good advice.

He came to save us from sin.

Titus 2:13 — Jesus Is Our Great God and Saviour

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

Jesus is described as our great God and Saviour.

That is who Christians believe Jesus is.

Jesus Came to Save Us

The truth that Jesus is God becomes even more amazing when we consider what He did for us.

The God who created us did not leave us in our sin.

He came to us.

Jesus took on human flesh, lived among us, experienced suffering and rejection, and willingly gave His life on the cross.

John 1:18 — Jesus Makes the Father Known

“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

Jesus came to make the Father known.

Through Jesus, we see God’s love, mercy, holiness, compassion and truth.

Jesus Is More Than a Good Teacher

It is possible to admire Jesus without truly understanding who He is.

People can appreciate His teachings about loving others, forgiving people and caring for those who are hurting while still missing the most important part of His message.

Jesus did not simply come to teach us how to live a better life.

He came as the Son of God and the Saviour of the world.

Matthew 16:15–16 — Who Do You Say That Jesus Is?

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

That is ultimately the question each person has to consider.

Who do you say that Jesus is?

The Bible’s answer is clear.

Jesus is the Christ, He is the Son of God.

He existed before the world began, He is fully God.

Jesus became fully human, He died for our sins and He rose again.

And He said, “I and my Father are one.”

Is Jesus God?

Yes. The Bible is clear that Jesus is God.

Jesus Himself said, “I and my Father are one.” John tells us that the Word was God and that the Word became flesh. Thomas called the risen Jesus “My Lord and my God.” Hebrews records the Father addressing the Son as “O God,” while Paul says that the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ.

At the same time, Jesus is not the Father. The Father and the Son are distinct, which is why Jesus could pray to the Father and speak about the Father while still being fully God.

We may not be able to completely understand how God can be one God while the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct, but we can believe what Scripture tells us.

Jesus is not merely a prophet.

He is not simply a good man.

He is not just a teacher who showed us the way to God.

Jesus is God who came into the world to save us.

And that is why the question of who Jesus is matters so much. When we understand who He truly is, we begin to understand the incredible love behind what He came to do for us.

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