The deity of Jesus is one of the most important question in this book, and every believer should have a biblical answer to this question.
Why is that?
Because there is more confusion around the person of Jesus Christ than any other human figure in history, while most people will readily accept that Jesus was once a man, many will rage at the claim that He was more than a man.
It is worth noting that a compelling argument is made stating that Jesus never mentioned, nor does the Bible document Him saying, “I am God worship me.”
Although Jesus does not explicitly use those words, we do have several statements in the Bible that would imply the characteristics of Jesus’s claims of deity.
CLAIMS & ACTIONS OF JESUS
JESUS CLAIMED TO BE ETERNAL YAHWEH
JESUS CLAIMED EQUALITY WITH GOD
JESUS OPENLY ACCEPTED WORSHIP
JESUS OPENLY FORGAVE SIN
JESUS EXPECTED THE DISCIPLES TO PRAY IN HIS NAME
A further list of claims by Jesus is included at the end of this page for your reference.
Furthermore, in John Chapter 5:17–24, Jesus makes five distinct claims of being equal with God. He is equal with the Father in His person, in His sovereign power, in His works, in His judgment, and in the honor that is due to Him.
John 5:17-24 (NKJV)
17. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18. Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
19. Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
20. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
23. that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
CLAIMS OF JESUS FOLLOWERS
Moreover, we also see statements made by Jesus’ close disciples.
Although initially, it took them a while, they eventually recognized that behind the cover of His humanity abided the Glory of His Divinity.
THOMAS CALLED JESUS GOD
JOHN OPENS HIS BOOK BY CALLING JESUS GOD
MATHEW REFERS TO JESUS AS IMMANUEL IN HIS BOOK
Even from a historical study, the early Church refuted claims that reduced Jesus to being merely a man and warmly welcomed Jesus as God.
The Chalcedonian Creed, written in 451 AD (statement of the early Church), asserts that Jesus is indeed God and Truly Man.
These clear statements from the Bible are sufficient for anyone to recognize that Jesus was more than a just man and was God revealing Himself in human flesh.
In fact there are only three possible explanations for the claims that Jesus made. Either he was crazy, a deceiver or exactly who He claimed to be. He could not have possibly been merely a good moral teacher for such people do not make the kind of claims that Jesus had made – as C. S. Lewis notes,
”A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
Below are a few more relevant extracts/statements that support Jesus’ claims for divinity;
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES WITH BIBLE VERSES WHERE JESUS CLAIMED:
IT IS EVIDENT THAT BY JUST READING THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT - YOU CANNOT COME TO ANY OTHER CONCLUSION THAT JESUS IS GOD INCARNATE REVEALED IN THE FLESH.