Who is Jesus? Since He came into this world, there have been those who have asked, “Who is this man? Is He just a man, or is He the Son of God and the Saviour of the world?” From the Scriptures we may see that Jesus is, indeed, the Christ, the Son of the living God.
In the first place, Jesus is referred to as “God” in the Bible. The prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 9:6-7, called Him “Mighty God.” In John 1:1-3, 14, Jesus is called “the Word” which became flesh and dwelled among men. In Hebrews 1:8 we read, “but of the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” In John 3:16, Jesus is called the “only begotten Son” of God sent to save the world from sin. Yes, Jesus is Divine, according to the Scriptures. He is referred to as God, as the living Word, and as the only begotten Son of God. He is the Christ, not just a good man or a great teacher. In the second place, Jesus showed that He is God. Who but God has the power to create? Yet, in John 1:1-3, we read that all things were created through Jesus Christ. Who is to be worshipped but God? Scriptures such as Matthew 4:10, Revelation 19:10, and Revelation 22:9, show that men are to worship God. But Jesus accepted the worship of men while on earth (Matthew 8:2; 9:18). Therefore, Jesus is God. He is eternal. He is not a created being. He is the author of creation. He is the living Word through whom all things were created.
The epistle to the Colossians sets forth the dignity and the Divinity of Christ (Colossians 1:13-20). Also in Philippians 2:9-11, Paul wrote, “Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Thus, Jesus Christ is more than an angel and He is more than a prophet. Jesus Christ is Deity. He is the only begotten Son of the heavenly Father.
Who has the right to forgive sins? God has the right to forgive sins; yet, while on earth, Jesus had the power to forgive sins and to heal miraculously (Mark 2:1-12). Only God can forgive sins. Therefore, since Jesus forgave sins while on earth, Jesus is Deity.
Jesus is also spoken of as equal with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 1:26 we read, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...” Those present were God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit—the Godhead. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit worked together in these mighty acts of creating the world (Genesis 1:1-2).
Finally, we note that Jesus was one with the Father. In John 10:30, we read, “I and the Father are one.” These are the words of Jesus describing His relationship to the Father. They are one in nature, purpose, and teaching. Philip once said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Jesus answered, “Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?” (John 14:8-9). Yes, Jesus was one with His Father. In Philippians chapter 2, there is a statement which shows that Jesus was one with God. “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8).
What has been said of Jesus here is true of no other person who has ever lived. Just as the centurion declared as he stood before the cross of Christ and watched the Son of God crucified for the sins of the world, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). He is the Son of God, He is not mere man! He is not a created being, and He is not as one of the angels. He is above the angels. He is the only begotten Son of God!
The entire epistle to the Hebrews points out the contrast between the old Law of Moses and the New Covenant of Christ. It also exalts Jesus above all. The epistle begins: “God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.” (Hebrews 1:1-4).
It is clear that Jesus Christ is above all others, that He, even now, is at the right hand of God as our great High Priest, and King over His spiritual kingdom, the church. It is also clear that through obedience to His Gospel, we may be made citizens of that spiritual kingdom, His body, over which He is Head. Then, by continuing to live faithfully in His body, we may spend eternity with Him. To be members of His church, the body of the saved, we must come to God through Jesus, believing in Him as the only begotten Son of God (John 8:24). We must then repent of our sins; that is, change our minds and then change our lives, turning away from sin (Luke 13:3). Then we must confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and be buried in baptism for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 8:36-39). It is then that we are cleansed by the blood of Christ, and added by the Lord to the church of Christ, which was purchased with His precious blood (Acts 2:41, 47; 20:28).
In the first place, Jesus is referred to as “God” in the Bible. The prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 9:6-7, called Him “Mighty God.” In John 1:1-3, 14, Jesus is called “the Word” which became flesh and dwelled among men. In Hebrews 1:8 we read, “but of the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” In John 3:16, Jesus is called the “only begotten Son” of God sent to save the world from sin. Yes, Jesus is Divine, according to the Scriptures. He is referred to as God, as the living Word, and as the only begotten Son of God. He is the Christ, not just a good man or a great teacher. In the second place, Jesus showed that He is God. Who but God has the power to create? Yet, in John 1:1-3, we read that all things were created through Jesus Christ. Who is to be worshipped but God? Scriptures such as Matthew 4:10, Revelation 19:10, and Revelation 22:9, show that men are to worship God. But Jesus accepted the worship of men while on earth (Matthew 8:2; 9:18). Therefore, Jesus is God. He is eternal. He is not a created being. He is the author of creation. He is the living Word through whom all things were created.
The epistle to the Colossians sets forth the dignity and the Divinity of Christ (Colossians 1:13-20). Also in Philippians 2:9-11, Paul wrote, “Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Thus, Jesus Christ is more than an angel and He is more than a prophet. Jesus Christ is Deity. He is the only begotten Son of the heavenly Father.
Who has the right to forgive sins? God has the right to forgive sins; yet, while on earth, Jesus had the power to forgive sins and to heal miraculously (Mark 2:1-12). Only God can forgive sins. Therefore, since Jesus forgave sins while on earth, Jesus is Deity.
Jesus is also spoken of as equal with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 1:26 we read, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...” Those present were God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit—the Godhead. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit worked together in these mighty acts of creating the world (Genesis 1:1-2).
Finally, we note that Jesus was one with the Father. In John 10:30, we read, “I and the Father are one.” These are the words of Jesus describing His relationship to the Father. They are one in nature, purpose, and teaching. Philip once said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Jesus answered, “Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?” (John 14:8-9). Yes, Jesus was one with His Father. In Philippians chapter 2, there is a statement which shows that Jesus was one with God. “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8).
What has been said of Jesus here is true of no other person who has ever lived. Just as the centurion declared as he stood before the cross of Christ and watched the Son of God crucified for the sins of the world, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). He is the Son of God, He is not mere man! He is not a created being, and He is not as one of the angels. He is above the angels. He is the only begotten Son of God!
The entire epistle to the Hebrews points out the contrast between the old Law of Moses and the New Covenant of Christ. It also exalts Jesus above all. The epistle begins: “God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.” (Hebrews 1:1-4).
It is clear that Jesus Christ is above all others, that He, even now, is at the right hand of God as our great High Priest, and King over His spiritual kingdom, the church. It is also clear that through obedience to His Gospel, we may be made citizens of that spiritual kingdom, His body, over which He is Head. Then, by continuing to live faithfully in His body, we may spend eternity with Him. To be members of His church, the body of the saved, we must come to God through Jesus, believing in Him as the only begotten Son of God (John 8:24). We must then repent of our sins; that is, change our minds and then change our lives, turning away from sin (Luke 13:3). Then we must confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and be buried in baptism for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 8:36-39). It is then that we are cleansed by the blood of Christ, and added by the Lord to the church of Christ, which was purchased with His precious blood (Acts 2:41, 47; 20:28).