Jesus Is God

As Christians we believe in the Trinity.  In the Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  A Jehovah Witness acknowledges that Jehovah is Father God.  They believe Jesus is our savior but they believe He was a created being and not God the Son.  My Goal in putting this together is to help them and others see through scripture that our savior Jesus Christ is God the Son.  This is very important because believing in a different Jesus will not save you. 

My goal is to help people throughout the world will see the true heart and nature of God. The nature of Jesus is both God and man.

In this article I am going to explain why it is important that you believe Jesus is God for salvation.  I will show you in the Bible that Jehovah God and Jesus are equivalent.  I will provide you with examples from scripture of those who believe Jesus was God.  I will also show you the connection between worship and the deity of Jesus.      

We all have a spirit living in a fleshly body.  If we are saved when our body dies our spirit goes to be with God in heaven and our physical bodies are buried.  Our spirit and our physical bodies are separate yet they are joined together while on earth.  At the rapture our spirit will be united with a new glorified and imperishable body (1 Corinthians 15:36-49).

Jesus has a spirit but His spirit is different than ours.  His spirit is Divine in nature and His spirit was placed into an earthly body.  Jesus is the son of God and as God’s son He also has God’s nature.  Hebrews 1:3, He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.  Jesus was the son of Mary and as her son He also has her nature.  Philippians 2:5-7 talks about how Jesus holds the very nature of God and of man. 

Jesus’ spirit is Divine because His Father is Divine just like an earthly child takes on the traits of his earthly father.  We are also called children of God but we are without His Divine nature because we are adopted into his family.

Ephesians 1:5, he predestined us for adoption to son-ship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.  See also Romans 8:23 15, Galatians 4:5.

The church is the Bride of Jesus.  Jesus calls himself our bridegroom (Isaiah 62:5).  When a bride gets married she calls her husband’s parents Mom and Dad.  It is through bride’s relationship with their son that she becomes their daughter.  It is through our relationship and betrothal to Jesus that we become God’s child.  God is not just any father in-law.  He fully loves us and embraces us.  He takes us in and adopts us as His very own.  We can call Him Father and we become joint heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:14-17).  We are not just a random bride Jesus picked up off the street.  God created us specifically for His Son.  Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…  See also Psalm 139:13-14. 

1 Peter 2:9, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession.

Who we choose to marry will affect the rest of our lives.  I’m going to give you a quick analogy of a kingdom to help show you the importance of marrying a Jesus who is Divine in nature over a Jesus who is not. 

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is our savior, but they do not believe Jesus is God.  They are engaged to someone named Jesus but not to the Divine King.  The Bible says Jesus is the Prince of Peace and the King of Kings.  We can live with Him for all eternity in His Kingdom, or we can live elsewhere.  If you want to live in the King’s palace and rule and reign with him when you have no royal blood, then you need to marry the prince who will become King (2 Timothy 2:12).  We need to make sure we are engaged to the person with royal blood and not just to a commoner who shares the same name as the King—for a commoner has no authority in the Kingdom.  This is like God’s kingdom.  It’s important that you are engaged to the Jesus of the Bible (the one with the Divine spirit and sinless blood) and not just to any person named Jesus.  2 Corinthians 11:3-4 talks about how people are deceived into believing in another Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel. 

The Bible says Jesus is Jehovah God.  Some Bible translations will have the word Jehovah written as Lord.  I will write the word Jehovah after Lord in those verses so you know it is speaking about Jehovah.

Jehovah God is Equivalent with Jesus

Every Knee shall Bow

The Bible says to God every knee shall bow and tongue shall swear allegiance.  In the Old Testament Isaiah is saying it is Jehovah and in the New Testament Paul says Jesus is the one to whom every knee should bow and tongue confess.

In Isaiah 45:21 the original Hebrew says Jehovah God is speaking.  He is calling Himself a righteous God and Savior.  He is also speaking in the first person and says in

Isaiah 45:23, … ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

Paul explains the God Isaiah is talking about in

Philippians 2:10-11, At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

30 Pieces of Silver

In Zechariah 11:4, It says Jehovah God is speaking.  Jehovah is speaking in the first person and refers to himself as Jesus.

Zechariah 11:12-13, …So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.  13 And the Lord (JEHOVAH) said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.

Matthew says they paid 30 pieces of silver for Jesus.

Matthew 26:14-15 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.

He Was Pierced

In this next example Zechariah12:1 confirms Jehovah God is the one speaking and Jehovah is speaking in the first person again referencing Himself as Jesus. 

Zechariah 12:10, "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced…

Then in John 19:33-34 he says it was Jesus whom they pierced.  A soldier pierced the side of Jesus.

John 19:37, And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

My Messenger

In this next verse Jehovah God is once again speaking in the first person saying a messenger will prepare the way before him.   

Malachi 3:1, Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me…

Matthew tells us John the Baptist was the messenger who prepared the way before Jehovah.

Matthew 11:10-11, This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.

First and Last

In Isaiah Jehovah is calling His redeemer Jehovah.  He refers to himself by saying I am the first and the last.  These are both used for Jesus and God.

Isaiah 44:6, "Thus says the LORD (Jehovah), the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD (Jehovah) of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.  See also Isaiah 48:12

Revelation 1:5-7 makes it clear that this next verse is referencing Jesus.

Revelation 1:17-18, When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.  See also Revelation 22:13

Revelation 1:7 is talking about Jesus and verse 8 says 

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Made All Things

Isaiah says Jehovah God made all things and John said Jesus made all things.

Isaiah 44:24, Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD (Jehovah), who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth.

John makes it clear he is talking about Jesus in chapter 1. 

John 1:3, All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

Lord of The Sabbath

In Deuteronomy it says Jehovah God is Lord of the Sabbath and Mark says it is Jesus.

Deuteronomy 5:14, But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD (Jehovah) thy God.

Mark 2:28, Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.  

It is clear that the Bible states Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament because Jesus is God. 

Who Called Jesus God?

 Thomas called Jesus God.

John 20:28, Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 

Peter called Jesus God

2 Peter 1:1, Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

Isaiah called Jesus God

Isaiah 9:6, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew called Jesus God

Matthew 1:23, Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Paul called Jesus God

Titus 2:13, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.  

Don’t be confused by the word AND in-between God and Savior.  Jesus is the God who will have the glorious appearing and He is or savior.  See also Matthew 24:30 1 Timothy 6:14.

Matthew 24:30, Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

1 Timothy 6:14, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul references Jesus being equal to God in Philippians 2:5-6, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

Paul also calls Jesus God in Romans 9:5, … the Christ, who is God over all …

John called Jesus God

1 John 5:20, And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Here is another reference by John in John 1:18, No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.  Read also John 1-3 vs 14

John called Jesus the Word and then references the Word as God. 

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-2, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 

Jesus claimed to be God

Now is there evidence in the Bible that shows Jesus himself claimed to be God?  Yes, The Jews wanted to stone Jesus because he was claiming to be God.

John 10:30-33, I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

Jesus again referenced Himself as God in Revelation 22:13, by saying “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 

He is repeating what Jehovah God says in Isaiah 44:6, Thus says the LORD (JEHOVAH), the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD (JEHOVAH) of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God.” 

God and Jesus both call themselves I Am

In Exodus 3 when Moses wanted the name of God, Jehovah God calls himself, I Am.

Exodus 3:14, God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Jesus calls himself, “I Am”

John 8:57-59, So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him,

John 8:24, For unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins. See also John 13:13

Father God called Jesus God

Here is a good verse!  Father God references himself as God and also references his Son as God.  In this verse Father God is speaking to Jesus.

Hebrews 1:8-9, But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God (Jesus), your God (The Father), has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”  See also Psalm 45:7.

Psalm 110:1, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  See also Acts 2:34-35.

Worship Belongs to God Only

Worship belongs to God and only God. 

Exodus 34:14, Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.  

Jesus backs this up in Luke.

Luke 4:8, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.

Based on these last two verses we should see either one of two things: 

1. If Jesus is God

He will accept worship from others. 

2. If Jesus is not God

He will stop someone if they try to worship Him because they are breaking one of the Ten Commandments like John was stopped when he tried to worship an angel.

Revelation 22:8-9, I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he said to me, "Do not do that I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book.  Worship God."

So does it say anyone worshiped Jesus?  Yes!

Who Worshiped Jesus

The Wise Men Worshiped Jesus 

Matthew 2:2, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For, we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 

The Disciples Worshiped Jesus 

Matthew 14:33, Then, the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" They exclaimed!

The Blind Man Worshiped Jesus 

John 9:38, He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

All God’s Angels Worshiped Jesus

Hebrews 1:6, And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Worship of Jesus was not turned down or forbidden because Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus was called God by many; He was worshiped, and Jehovah God and Jesus are equivalent in the Word of God. If you choose not to believe this, you do not believe the Jesus of the Bible.

Colossians 2:8-9, See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.

Jehovah Witnesses

Most of the false teachings that Jesus is not God, come from Jehovah Witnesses.  When a Jehovah Witness comes to your door please consider answering the door, but ONLY if you are strong in your faith and know you will not be persuaded or moved from the truth.  You don't have to know all the answers!  They are well trained to reason away common questions.  Use this article to point out areas where it says Jesus is Jehovah God.

They tend to trust the watchtower society and their articles as God's word.  There are many places online that will help you find the in discrepancies and changes in their doctrine over the years.  God’s word does not change but the Watchtower’s does.  Prior to 1954 they used to worship Jesus as God.  Click HERE for an article about that.  They have many false doctrines but the belief that Jesus is not God is a salvation issue.

They are lost souls willing to come into your home to talk about God.  This is a great opportunity to minister to them the truth.  It may be scary for them to embrace it, but plant those seeds of faith while uprooting the lies the enemy has told them.  Be gentle, it's hard for anyone to come to terms and realize they have been believing a lie and most for their whole lives.  They are shunned from their family and friends when they come to the knowledge of the truth and leave their Kingdom Halls.  There are articles, books, websites, and YouTube videos out there on how to minister to Jehovah Witnesses.  Ask God for his help and wisdom in reaching out to them.  They need God and the truth just as much as you do.

For more of my articles check out my blog.

http://riseandshinelightoftheworld.blogspot.com

Cross Image by Dennis Gries from Pixabay