Jesus Is God: A Biblical Demonstration

The doctrine that Jesus Christ is God is at the very heart of Christian faith. It affirms that Jesus is not merely a wise teacher, prophet, or moral leader, but the eternal, divine God incarnate—fully God and fully man. The Bible provides a wealth of evidence that clearly demonstrates Jesus’ divine nature, leaving no room for doubt among believers.

Jesus’ Claims to Divinity

From His own words, Jesus asserts His divine authority and identity. In John 8:58, He boldly declares, "Before Abraham was born, I am!"—hitting right at the core of His divine self-awareness. The phrase "I am" echoes God's self-identification in Exodus 3:14: "I AM." By employing this phrase, Jesus associates Himself with God's eternal existence, explicitly claiming to be the same uncreated, eternal God. This was understood by His contemporaries as a claim to divinity, which is why they later sought to kill Him.

Titles and Names of Jesus

Scripture bestows upon Jesus titles that affirm His divine nature. John 1:1 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Verse 14 continues, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." Here, Jesus is identified as the divine Word, who incarnated to dwell among humanity.

Similarly, Colossians 1:15-17 describes Jesus as "the image of the invisible God" and "the firstborn over all creation," emphasizing His preexistence, divine authority, and eternal nature. These titles make it clear that Jesus is no mere creature but the divine image of God Himself.

Jesus’ Authority and Worship

The divine authority of Jesus is evident in His miracles and acts of forgiveness. Mark 2:5-12 recounts how Jesus forgives a man’s sins—an act reserved for God alone. His power over nature, demonstrated when He calms the storm (Matthew 8:23-27), and His healing miracles further affirm His sovereignty as Lord over creation.

Worship also testifies to His divine status. After Jesus walks on water and calms the storm, His disciples worship Him, proclaiming, "Truly, You are the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33). Worship is due only to God, and their act indicates their recognition of Jesus’ divine identity.

The Unity with the Father

In John 10:30, Jesus states, "I and the Father are one." The response of His audience was immediate—they sought to stone Him for blasphemy, recognizing this as a claim of divine equality. This unity highlights His divine nature, affirming that Jesus is fully God alongside the Father.

The Apostles’ Affirmation of Jesus’ Divinity

The apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, affirm Jesus’ divine identity. Titus 2:13 describes believers as "looking for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." This clear declaration places Jesus on equal footing with God, emphasizing His deity and His role as the Savior of the world.

God the Father Calls Jesus ‘God’

Hebrews 1:8-9 makes this explicit: "But to the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever...’" The Father directly addresses Jesus as God, affirming His eternal kingship and divine throne. This affirmation leaves no doubt that Jesus shares the divine throne and divine authority.

Jesus’ Humility and Exaltation

Philippians 2:5-10 offers a profound picture of Jesus’ divine humility and His exaltation. It states:

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name."

Here, the apostle Paul affirms that Jesus, in the very form of God, chose to humble Himself to become human, suffer, and die. His exaltation by God underscores His divine position and authority.

Thomas’ Confession of Jesus as God

In John 20:28, the disciple Thomas makes a powerful declaration: "My Lord and my God." This personal confession explicitly acknowledges Jesus’ divine identity. Among the earliest and clearest confessions of Jesus’ divinity, it underscores that Jesus is recognized as truly divine by His followers from the very beginning.

The Great Mystery of Godliness

Finally, the apostle Paul summarizes this profound truth in 1 Timothy 3:16:
"And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."

This verse succinctly captures the heart of the Christian faith: Jesus, who is fully divine, took on human flesh in the incarnation. His life, death, resurrection, and ascension are all part of this divine mystery—the glorious truth that God Himself came into the world to save humanity.

Biblical Evidence of Creation
The New Testament consistently points to Jesus as the active agent in creation. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." John 1:3 affirms, "All things were made by him," and Colossians 1:15-17 describes Jesus as "the firstborn over all creation," indicating His preexistence and divine role in creation. Hebrews 1:2 and 3:4 also affirm that Jesus, as God, was instrumental in establishing the universe. Only God can create, making these passages unmistakably clear about Jesus’ divine nature.

Conclusion

From the biblical evidence, there is no doubt—Jesus Christ is not just a wise man or great teacher, but the very God who created the universe. His own claims, the titles given to Him, and the acts of worship directed at Him all confirm His divine nature. Scriptural texts like Hebrews 1:8-9 affirm that God the Father Himself calls Jesus “God,” and Thomas's famous declaration in John 20:28 proclaims Jesus as "My Lord and my God."

Moreover, passages such as Philippians 2:5-10 reveal His preexistence as God, His humility in taking on flesh, and His exaltation by God, the Father. The great mystery of godliness is revealed: God was manifested in the flesh. These truths are not merely theological assertions but the foundation of our salvation and our worship.

Understanding and acknowledging Jesus as God is essential for a true relationship with Him and for grasping the full extent of God's love and plan for humanity. Jesus is not only the Savior but also the eternal, divine Lord—worthy of all praise, worship, and devotion.

Let us hold fast to this truth, proclaim it boldly, and worship our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Incarnate God, now and forevermore.

Sermon Outline: "Jesus Christ: The Divine Lord and God"

Introduction

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, we’re going to look at an essential truth of our faith—that Jesus Christ is not only Lord but also God incarnate. This truth is foundational to what we believe about salvation, worship, and the very nature of God Himself. As we study the Scriptures, let us open our hearts and minds to understand who Jesus really is according to God's Word.

I. Jesus’ Claims to Divinity

Scripture: John 8:58 – “Before Abraham was born, I am!”

Points to emphasize:

• Jesus makes a profound statement here—He declares His eternal existence.
• “I am” echoes the self-identification of God in Exodus 3:14.
• When Jesus says this, He is asserting His divine nature—He is claiming to be the eternal God.

Application:

• If Jesus claims to be the same as God, we must consider who He truly is.
• His words demand recognition of His deity.

II. Titles and Names of Jesus as Evidence of Divinity

Scripture: John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:15-17

Points to emphasize:

• The Word was with God and was God, and became flesh—affirming Christ’s divine nature and incarnation.
• Jesus is called “the image of the invisible God” and “the firstborn over all creation.”
• These titles reveal His divine sovereignty and eternal preexistence.

Application:

• Recognizing Jesus’ divine titles helps us understand His authority and worthiness of worship.

III. Jesus’ Authority and Worship

Scripture: Mark 2:5-12; Matthew 14:33

Points to emphasize:

• Jesus forgives sins—an act attributed only to God.
• His disciples worship Him, acknowledging His divine nature.
• Worship is reserved for God alone, so their act indicates Jesus’ divine status.

Application:

• Our worship and adoration are directed to Jesus because He is God in the flesh.

IV. Jesus’ Unity with the Father

Scripture: John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one.”

Points to emphasize:

• Jesus is claiming a unique unity with God the Father.
• His audience understood this as a claim to divinity, which is why they accused Him of blasphemy.
• Unity with the Father affirms His divine nature.

Application:

• Jesus and the Father are inseparable in purpose and essence—they share the divine identity.

V. The Apostolic Affirmation of Jesus’ Divinity

Scripture: Titus 2:13 – “Our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Points to emphasize:

• The apostles explicitly call Jesus “God.”
• This affirms that from the earliest days of the church, believers recognized Jesus’ deity.

Application:

• Recognizing Jesus as God is vital for understanding who He is and what He accomplished for our salvation.

VI. The Father Calls Jesus ‘God’

Scripture: Hebrews 1:8-9

Read: “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever...’”

Points to emphasize:

• The Father addresses Jesus directly as God.
• Jesus shares the divine throne and eternal kingship.
• This passage confirms His divine and eternal lordship.

Application:

• Jesus is not a lesser divine being—He is God Himself reigning forever.

VII. The Humility and Exaltation of Jesus

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-10

Read: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...”

Points to emphasize:

• Though He was in the form of God, Jesus humbled Himself to become human.
• He suffered and died on the cross, an act of incredible humility.
• God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name.

Application:

• Jesus’ humility and exaltation affirm His divine authority and His mission to save mankind.

VIII. Thomas’ Confession of Jesus as God

Scripture: John 20:28 – “My Lord and my God!”

Points to emphasize:

• Thomas personally confesses Jesus as his Lord and God.
• This is a direct and explicit declaration of Jesus’ divine nature by a disciple.

Application:

• Believers today can boldly affirm that Jesus is Lord and God, as Thomas did.

IX. The Great Mystery of Godliness

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:16
Read: “And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.”

Points to emphasize:

• This verse encapsulates the profound truth: Jesus, who is God, was manifested in human flesh.
• His incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension are all part of this divine mystery.
• Recognizing this mystery is central to our faith and worship.

Application:

• We worship and serve a God who has compassionately entered into our world as Jesus Christ.
• The incarnation affirms His divine and human nature, and His exaltation confirms His divine authority.

X. Biblical Evidence of Creation

I. Introduction

• The New Testament consistently affirms Jesus as the active agent in creation.

II. Old Testament Foundation

• Genesis 1:1 — "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
  Sets the context of God's role as Creator.

III. New Testament Affirmations
A. John 1:3

• "All things were made by him."
• Emphasizes Jesus as the Creator of everything.

B. Colossians 1:15-17

• Describes Jesus as "the firstborn over all creation," indicating His preexistence and divine preeminence.
• States, "By him all things were created," and "all things consist" because of Him.

C. Hebrews 1:2 & 3:4

• Affirm that Jesus, as God, was instrumental in establishing the universe.
• Specifically, Hebrews 1:2 mentions the last days spoken through His Son, by whom the worlds were made.
• Hebrews 3:4 states, "He that built all things is God."

IV. Implication

• Only God has the authority and power to create.
• These passages undeniably affirm Jesus’ divine nature as the Creator of the universe.

XI. Final Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, as we review these biblical truths, it becomes clear that Jesus is not just a prophet, teacher, or moral example—He is the eternal, divine God Himself. The Scriptures—through His claims, titles, worship, divine affirmation from the Father, Thomas' confession, and the profound mystery Paul reveals—leave no doubt: Jesus Christ is God.

How should we respond?

• We should worship Him with all our hearts, recognizing His divine authority.
• We should proclaim Him boldly as Lord and God.
• We should live in humility and obedience, following the example of Christ’s humility.

Let us anchor our faith in the truth of who Jesus truly is—the God who was manifested in the flesh to save us. Worship Him, serve Him, and declare His name to the ends of the earth.

In conclusion:

Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh.
Let us honor and worship Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, now and forevermore. Amen.