I am sure everyone here today believes Jesus is God, but I want to remind everyone he is and show verses that will allow people to witness to those who deny the deity of Jesus.
Many cults deny the deity of God or minimize his position and authority. The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus was created and was originally the archangel Michael of the Old Testament prior to coming to earth as a man and becoming Jesus. They deny the deity of Jesus. The Mormons also believe Jesus was created and that he was the spirit brother of Lucifer with Jesus being the first born and then Lucifer with all other angels and people following. When God asked for one to become the Saviour of man, both Jesus and Lucifer offered to be the Saviour of mankind. God chose Jesus and this caused Lucifer to rebel and become Satan. Mormons believe Jesus was created first and then created everything else. Mormons believe Jesus is a god, but not the living God. They also believe people can become equal gods with Jesus. The Roman Catholics try to make Mary a co-redeemer with Jesus. Mary is elevated above Jesus in the Roman Catholic Church and say she also was born without sin and helps intercede for people. That is what Jesus does, not Mary. The Muslims say Jesus was a prophet and the only one that performed miracles, including their supposedly greatest prophet Mohammed who did no miracles, but they deny Jesus is God. There are other cults and false religions that deny Jesus is God.
Jesus had the attributes, authority, titles and names of God and was worshipped as God. He himself proclaimed to be God. Jesus had all of these things because he is God. The gospel of John is written to show Jesus is God.
Jesus is eternal and has no beginning or ending. (John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.) We know from John 1:14 that the Word is Jesus when he became a man in the flesh. (John 1:14 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.) Scripture is the word of God. (Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.) Jesus is from everlasting. (Micah 5:2 But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.) This same statement is said of God. (Psalm 93:2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.) and (Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.) Only God can have always been.
Jesus is omnipotent (all powerful). Jesus as the Word spoke the universe into existence as our Creator. Only God can create something from nothing. (Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.) (John 1:3-4 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.) (Colossians 1:16-17 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:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.) Jesus holds the universe together. Jesus has control over the weather. He calmed the sea and wind. (Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.)
Jesus is omnipresent (everywhere at the same time). (Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.) (John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.) John 3:13 shows Jesus in heaven at the same time he was speaking here on earth. Most modern bibles remove the last part showing he was in heaven at the same time denying his omnipresence. Only God can be everywhere. Even Satan as a created being can only be in one place at the same time.
Jesus is omniscient (all knowing). Nothing takes Jesus by surprise. He knows the future before it happens. He knows our thoughts. Only God can be all knowing. Jesus knew Nathaniel was under a fig tree when Philip found him to tell him Jesus was the prophet spoken of by Moses. (John 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.) This also shows the omnipresence of Jesus. Jesus knew Judas Iscariot would betray him. (John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.) (John 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.) Jesus knew the Samaritan woman at the well had had five husbands and was living with another man she was not married to. (John 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.) Jesus could read thoughts. Only God can do that. Not even Satan can read one’s thoughts. (Luke 5:21-23 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?) Jesus knew the first fish Peter caught would have money in it to pay tribute for them in Capernaum. (Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.)
Jesus had many preincarnate appearances prior to becoming a man on earth. This shows Jesus is no mere man. We mentioned many of these last week such as the burning bush who spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:2, angel of the LORD) or appearing to Abram (Abraham) as Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18) or again to Abraham as a man (the LORD) with two holy angels before destroying Sodom. (Genesis 18:22)
Jesus performed miracles that only God can do. Other people also did miracles such as raising the dead as Jesus did, but theirs was done under the power of God. Jesus as God performed the miracle of changing water into wine, which is something only he can do as the Creator in changing the elements. (John 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.) Another example is the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000 by creating more bread and fish than was originally there. Jesus healed a blind man who had been blind from birth which no man had ever done.
Jesus was sinless. No man is sinless as all are born with a sin nature thanks to Adam. Jesus being born of a virgin did not inherit that sin nature and had to be sinless to take our place on the cross for our salvation. Jesus had to be God to have no sin. (Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.) (II Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.)
God was manifest (revealed to us, made obvious, made known to us) in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.) Jesus came in the flesh.
Jesus is part of the Godhead (Trinity) and included himself in it. (Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.) (I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.) (Matthew 28:19 ¶ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:)
Thomas recognized Jesus as God. (John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.) Jesus never rebuked Thomas for calling him God.
Jesus is the Rock of the Old Testament. (I Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.)
Jesus is called The mighty God in Isaiah 9:6. (Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.)
God the Father shares his glory with Jesus. He will not share his glory with man or angel or anything else, but only Jesus since he is God. (Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.) (Isaiah 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.) (John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.)
Jesus said “I and my Father are one”. (John 10:30 I and my Father are one.) The Jews response in John 10:33 was to stone Jesus for blasphemy. (John 10:33 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.)
Jesus said he was the Son of God. The Jews recognized someone who was the son of a dad as having the same characteristics of the dad and they were the same. They recognized Jesus saying he was God and accused him of blasphemy, but as God, Jesus can make this claim.
This was also seen in the seven “I am” statements made by Jesus in John. By saying “I am” he was saying he was God. God told Moses his name was I AM THAT I AM”. (Exodus 3:14 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 also told them he existed before Abraham again showing he always was. (John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.)
Jesus was worshipped, accepted the worship and never rebuked anyone for worshipping him. Jehovah’s Witnesses claim Jesus was not worshipped in scripture. There are many, many verses showing he was. Man and holy angels refused worship, saying it belongs to God.
Leper worshipped Jesus and was cleansed. (Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.)
The apostles worshipped Jesus in the boat after Jesus and Peter walked on water. (Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.)
Ruler whose daughter was dead and raised by Jesus worshipped Jesus. (Matthew 9:18 ¶ While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.)
God the Father commands all the angels to worship Jesus at his birth as a man. (Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.) [God would not command the angels to worship Jesus if he were only a mere man, but would if he were God as he is. Jesus was the God-man, 100% God and also 100% man. God is a jealous God and shares his glory with no one. (Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:)]
(Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;)
There are many more examples of people and angels worshipping God.
Jesus forgave sins which only God can do. Even the scribes knew this. (Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.)
We are to look for “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”. (Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;)
John 8:12 and John 9:5 says Jesus is the light of the world.(John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.) and (John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.) I John 1:5 says God is light. (I John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.)
Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.)
God the Father said unto the Son (Jesus) “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:”. (Hebrews 1:8 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.) (Psalm 45:6-8 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.) (Psalm 45:6 is quoted in Hebrews 1:8) God the Father was calling Jesus God. No more proof needed.
As seen in the above verses and many more in scripture they clearly show Jesus is God. No mere man could have the authority, attributes, titles and names of God or do the works of God unless they were God. Jesus fulfills all of those. Jesus is God.
