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Is Jesus God?Is Jesus God? In the Islamic mind, Jesus is not God but a prophet of Allah or God. Jesus is just God's representative on Earth as the prophet Muhammad was. The New Age Movement and other religions believe Jesus was nothing more than a great teacher. The Jews believe Jesus was a false prophet and are still waiting on their Messiah to come. Christians believe Jesus is God and was God in the flesh during his time here on Earth. Is Jesus God? What does the Bible say about Jesus? Consider the name Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Greek translation of the word Joshua and this name was what the angel told Mary to name her unborn son according to Matthew Chapter 1. This name simply means He saves. Christ means the "Anointed One". The name Jesus Christ can be translated The Anointed One Who Saves or The Messiah Who Is Salvation. The question remains, Is Jesus God? Genesis is the beginning of the Bible. Verse 1 states, "God created the heavens and the earth". Paul states in Colossians Chapter 1 concerning Christ, 13 "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 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. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" Is Jesus God? Paul asserts that Jesus Christ is "the image of the invisible God" and "all things were created by him, and for him". Paul is saying that Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth. Genesis states God created the heavens and the earth. From these verses, we would have to conclude that Jesus is God. Is Jesus God? Everyone knows God created man in his own image but let's see what the text actually says, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:" Gen 1:26 Note the words US and OUR in the text. God referred to Himself as "us" and "our". Here we see that God is not just a single being but a pluralistic being. This helps us to understand how Jesus could be both God and man. Man is a pluralistic creature. Man has a physical body. Man has a soul, which is his personality, and man has a spirit. Man is three beings in one and man was created in the image of God which means that it is very likely that God is three beings in one. Jesus would be the body. Paul said Jesus, "is the image of the invisible God." God would be the soul or personality of Jesus and the Holy Spirit would be the spirit part of God. John answers yes to the question Is Jesus God? In John Chapter 1 Verse 1 we read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John identifies God as the Word because God spoke the worlds into existence. In verse 14 of the same chapter, John states, " And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John, the disciple that Jesus charged to take care of his mother while He was hanging on the cross, asserts that God was the Word and the Word was made flesh. John is referring to Jesus Christ in this chapter. John is stating that Jesus was God in the flesh. So we have two New Testament authors who assert that Jesus is God. What other proof from scripture do we have that Jesus is God? Isaiah prophesied about the virgin birth of Christ in Chapter 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." What does the name "Immanuel" mean? According to the angel that told Mary she was going to have a child even though she had never slept with a man, "Immanuel" means "God with us". Here we an angel answering the question, Is Jesus God? Matt. 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." The angel was announcing that Mary's child would be God dwelling with us. Jesus Himself claimed to be God. It has been said of this claim that would make Jesus one of three things: a liar, a lunatic, or exactly who He said He was. If Jesus was a liar, then He would be on the same level as Satan and millions of Christians would have a misplaced faith. If Jesus was a lunatic, then He would have pulled off the biggest deception in History. If Jesus was God, then He still is. Let's examine some of the answers Jesus Himself gave to the question Is Jesus God? In John Chapter 8 we read, "56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." Jesus stated, "Before Abraham was, I am" The Jews were extremely upset with Jesus because He had just claimed to be God. They tried to stone Jesus to death but Jesus simply walked away without any of the religious Jews seeing Him. The title "I am" is the title of God according to the book of Exodus Chapter 3. "13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 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 gave Himself the same name, "I am". In John Chapter 10 Jesus is again making the religious Jewish leaders angry because of His claim to be God. "30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 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." Many people believe that when Jesus is saying "I and my Father are one." He really means that He and God are one in purpose. However, the Jews are angry with Him because He has made Himself to be on an equal level with God not because He was on a mission from God. Jesus clarifies to Phillip that He and the Father are the same and answers the question, Is Jesus God? In John Chapter 14, "6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.7 If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from now on you know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffises us. 9 Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and how say you then, Show us the Father? 10 Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." Is Jesus God? 1 Timothy claims He is, "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." According to Timothy God was manifest in the flesh. This is an obvious reference to Jesus Christ. This same Christ was "preached unto the Gentiles" which is still happening today 2,000 plus years later. Is Jesus God? There are many other scripture references that point to the fact Jesus is God. Now, you, the reader, must weigh the evidence for yourself and answer the question Is Jesus God? for yourself. Copyright 2010 by Gary Goodworth Is Jesus God? - A look at all of the scriptures in the Holy Bible that compare God with Jesus.
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