December 2013, “Jesus: Is He God?”

Jesus: Is He God?

Years ago during a Bible study in my home, I asked a simple question, “Are you aware that Jesus is God?”

“No . . .” came the curious response from several students. “If Jesus is the Son of God, how could God be God’s Son?”

Grateful for their candid response, I af­firmed that in numerous places, the Bible does refer to Jesus as the “Son of God.” At the same time, the Bible also presents the concept of the Trinity—that we serve one God in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Although Jesus was born as a typical human son—with flesh and blood—He was anything but typical. Think about it, a natu­ral son born of a human father periodically violates his father’s will—in both attitude and action. Jesus, however, never once violated the will of His heavenly Father.

In fact, Jesus could not violate His Father’s will because, as Jesus stated, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus further explained, “What­ever I say is just what the Father has told me to say. . . . The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. . . . These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me” (John 12:50; 14:10, 24).

Look at the creative way that John begins his Gospel with the expressed purpose of presenting that Jesus is God. “In the begin­ning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then verse 14 reveals that “the Word” is Jesus: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In my own personal research, I discov­ered that the Bible overflows with Scriptures clearly confirming the deity of Christ. Notice how many different people and different books of the Bible present Jesus as God:

1. The apostle Paul refers to Jesus as “God and Savior” (Titus 2:13).
2. The apostle Peter re­fers to Jesus as “God and Savior” (2 Peter 1:1).
3. The apostle Thomas re­fers to Jesus as “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
4. The apostle John refers to Jesus as “the Word” and states, “. . . the Word was God” (John 1:1).
5. Jesus Himself says, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
6. In Hebrews, Jesus is called “God” (Hebrews 1:8).
7. In 1 John, Jesus is called “the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).
8. In Philippians, Jesus is described as be­ing “in very nature God” (Philippians 2:5–6).
9. In Colossians, Jesus is declared to be fully God, with “all the fullness of the Deity” (Colossians 2:9-10).
10. In John, the Gospel, Jesus calls Him­self, “I am!” (John 8:58, referring to God— Exodus 3:14).
11. In Romans, Jesus is called “God over all” (Romans 9:5).

As we embrace the season of Christ’s birth, we are not merely focus­ing on the birth of a baby or . . . a pro­found teacher . . . a renowned prophet . . . a remarkable healer. We are celebrating the human birth of “Messiah [Christ], who is God over all.”

Now my question for you is this, have you recognized that Christ is God over all . . . of you? Have you sincerely received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior—giving Him control of your life?

If not . . . and if you believe that Jesus is leading you to enter into a life-changing relationship with Him, I invite you to humble your heart and pray . . .

“God, I need a real relationship with You. Please forgive me for the times I’ve chosen to go my way—not Your way. Jesus, I’m ask­ing You to come into my life to be my per­sonal Lord and Savior . . . to be God over all my life. I give You control over all of me. Make me the person You created me to be. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.”

If this is the prayer of your heart, realize that now the Christ of Christ­mas lives in you to bring peace to you. You have His peace because He is called the “Prince of Peace.” This is your birthright—at Christ­mastime and all year long.

With Christmas Peace,

June Hunt

P.S. If you genuinely prayed this prayer, receiving Jesus as your true Lord and Savior, please contact our Care Center: 1-800-488-HOPE (4673). I would like to send a gift to you and help your spiritual growth!

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