Jesus Christ is arguably the most controversial figure in history. Many people believe in both his humanity and divinity, yet many others believe that he is simply a good man with a special, divine mission from God.
This latter group often ask the believers if there is any statement in the Bible where Jesus claimed to be God. This question seems valid as it is true that there is no such statement from Jesus where he said, “I am God, you must worship me.”
However, with the same logical argument, the believers turn back the question asking if there is any statement in the Bible where Jesus claimed not to be God, such as “I am not God, don’t worship me.”
It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the divinity of Jesus Christ cannot simply be proven by whether or not he has made any explicit declaration concerning his nature.
As a Christian (or Christ’s follower), the author obviously believes that Jesus Christ is God, as the Bible describes in John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
However, interestingly and miraculously, Jesus Christ has a dual nature. He is not only fully divine, but also fully human as indicated further in John 1:14: “And the Word became 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.” This supernatural act of God becoming man is known as incarnation. Our finite human mind and knowledge may not be able to fully comprehend this miracle, thus it must be revealed by the Almighty in the first place.
The author would suggest the video from David Wood to further address the question on the deity of Christ, based on the Biblical references, as indicated by his divine titles (the First and the Last, the Judge, the Truth) and his authority to forgive sins and raise the dead.
Here, the author would like to address another question he himself had a few years ago: “If Jesus is God and the only Savior of mankind, what happened with people who lived before Christ? How could they be saved?”
Based on the Gregorian calendar, we live in the year of 2021. So, for about two millenniums, the world has been told to “believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Now, the author wondered how the message of salvation was conveyed in the ancient times (i.e., before Jesus came to this world).
Well, the answer can apparently be found in the Bible. It is narrated that in the time of the Hebrew fathers (i.e., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job), people were also in desperation searching for the one true God. They often mistakenly believed or idolized the creation (e.g., sun, moon, stars, mountains) instead of the Creator.
God sent His messengers to tell these people to repent and return to Him—oftentimes it took the demonstration of His power to deliver them from their enemies. It was to Moses that God made Himself known as “I AM WHO I AM” which is transliterated as Yahweh (or Jehovah, in English).
Yahweh is the only One who can save His people. So, in the ancient times, people must believe in Yahweh in order to be saved. The other gods or idols were helpless.
So, if Yahweh is the true God and so is Jesus, then there should be consistent parallels between Yahweh and Jesus.
In the Bible, by comparing the Old Testament and New Testament particular verses, we can find at least ten parallels between Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, which all indicate that indeed Jesus Christ and Jehovah God are one.
Let’s have a closer look.
1. The Creator
In the Old Testament, Yahweh gives the revelation to the prophet Isaiah that He is the Creator of the universe.
For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.”
Isaiah 45:18 NKJV
In the New Testament, Jesus gives the revelation to John and the author of the Book of Hebrews (possibly Paul) that He is the Creator of the universe.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
John 1:1-3 NKJV
And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.
Hebrews 1:2 NLT
We will see the same patterns in the following points and descriptions.
2. The Savior
I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.
Isaiah 43:11 NKJV
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11 NKJV
3. The Life Giver
See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
Deuteronomy 32:39 NKJV
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
John 10:17-18 NKJV
4. The Holy One
Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy…’
Leviticus 19:2 NKJV
But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV
And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
Isaiah 6:3 NKJV
And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Revelation 4:8 NKJV
5. The Great I AM
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
Exodus 3:14 NKJV
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 8:58 NKJV
6. The Rock
‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’”
Isaiah 44:8 NASB
For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
Psalm 18:31, 2 Samuel 22:32 NKJV
For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV
7. The Sovereign Lord
Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’
Isaiah 46:9-10 NKJV
He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15 NKJV
8. The Everlasting God
Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
Genesis 21:33 NKJV
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 40:28 NKJV
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17 NKJV
9. The Perfect Judge and King
For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us.
Isaiah 33:22 NKJV
And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.
Isaiah 44:6 NKJV
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
Revelation 22:13 NKJV
Can you see the consistencies in all the above verses? Isn’t it amazing that the different human authors of the Scriptures with different backgrounds and times in history could come to such comparably consistent messages about the one true God? That’s why the Bible is truly God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16).
Finally, the author sincerely hopes that this writing may be used by the Lord to convince the reader(s) that Jehovah God (Yahweh) and Jesus Christ are the one true God. He alone is worthy to be worshipped and able to save us (from sin, evil, and death). Eternal life can only be found in Him.
No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
1 John 2:23 NIV
Vancouver, March 28, 2021
Further readings:
Pearls of Mind 