Jesus never said: “I AM GOD!”

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Other Religions Say Jesus Was Not God! 

There are many religions, even today, that do not recognize Jesus to be the incarnate God; they tout that He was simply a good man, a good teacher, or maybe a prophet. 

For example, as it is understood, the Jehovah’s Witness teaches that before Jesus’ physical manifestation, Jesus was a spirit in heaven created by God called Michael the archangel.  And it was Michael’s spirit that entered Mary’s child who became known as the man Jesus.  

Make no mistake; there are other religions too that have equally strange doctrines.  But even though they may think Jesus was a good man, a good teacher, or a prophet—they would actually be correct—He was all of them.  But He was…and is…also God—the Godman—the Son of the Father—the second Person of the Trinity!

Nevertheless, the argument made by some who reject Jesus' deity is that Jesus never claimed to be God, therefore, He cannot be God. And I must agree, there is indeed no record in the King James Bible of Jesus, Himself, precisely stating this exact three-word sentence: "I am God." However, this does not mean that Jesus never made the claim to be God or to be equal to God.

                                                                                                             

Are You Sure Jesus Really Made the Claim to Be God?

Am I sure?  Again, I would assert yes!  As an example, let’s review the words of Jesus in John 10:30, “I (Jesus) and my Father are one.”  This single statement speaks volumes!  Can you imagine the look on the faces of those Jews—especially the Pharisees—who heard Him make this assertion?  Jesus did not beat around the bush sheepishly.  He knew who sent Him; where He came from; and the reason He was here.  Those Jews knew what He meant when He said what He said.  Jesus said He and God the Father are equal in divinity—they are both God—the first and second person of the Trinity.  Therefore, the Jews picked up stones to kill Him for blaspheming due to His claim.  Simply look at their response:

John 10:33

“The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou (Jesus), BEING A MAN, MAKEST THYSELF GOD.”

The claim is clear.  Jesus said He and God the Father are of the same essence.  They both are intrinsic within the Godhead.  Jesus said He is equal to God the Father; thus, He is God; therefore, the Jews were to kill Him by the Mosaic law (Leviticus 24:16).

Another example of Jesus claim to be God can be found in the book of John:

John 8:58

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, BEFORE Abraham was, I AM.”

When Jesus said, “I AM”, He was emphatically stating that He existed before their father Abraham in whom the covenant of the circumcision was promised, as well as the land for everlasting.  But most importantly, His assertion is a reference to Exodus 3:14 when God revealed Himself to Moses as the “I AM” who was to convey this message to God’s people so they would know who sent Moses.

Exodus 3:14

“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.”

Those are just two verses in which Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God clearly stated that He is God.

 

Did Other Biblical Accounts Claim Jesus to be God?

Absolutely!  Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, makes the statement in his epistle to the Philippians that Jesus was in the form of God and was also equal with God (you’ll need to study the context on your own):

Philippians 2:6

Who (Christ Jesus), being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

In addition, John reiterates the concept of Jesus’ deity in his New Testament book of, what we simply call, John:

John 1:1-3

1 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God , and the Word (Jesus) was God.  2 The same (Word or Jesus) was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him (Word or Jesus); and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The capital “W” denotes the name “Word” as the personal proper noun in place of the name “Jesus”.  It’s as if John recognizes God SPOKE the world into existence by the WORD.  It’s like God’s word in which He spake equals God the Word, if you follow.  

In any case, notice that in the beginning of time as we know it (Genesis 1:1), Jesus (pre-flesh) existed and was with God.  But not only was He with God, He was literally God!  In fact, ALL things were made by Him.

John goes on to say in verse 14 that the Word (Jesus) THAT WAS GOD, was then MADE FLESH—referring to the person of Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry who taught the apostles and began to spread the gospel of the kingdom.

John 1:14

“And the Word (Jesus) WAS MADE 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.”

Furthermore, Doctor Luke, the writer of the book of Acts tells us that GOD bought the church WITH HIS OWN BLOOD. 

Acts 20:28

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of GOD, which he hath PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.”

Question: Who died on the cross of Calvary?  Answer: Jesus. 

Question: Whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins?  Answer: Jesus’. 

Ephesians 2:13

“But now in Christ Jesus ye (Gentiles) who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the BLOOD OF CHRIST.”

But wait—Acts says it was God’s own blood—correct?  Yes. 

Question: Well then, how can it be Jesus’ blood, and God’s own blood too?  Answer: because Jesus is the Son of God WHO IS GOD manifest in the flesh!

1 Timothy 3:16

“…GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH (Christ Jesus during his earthly ministry), justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory (after His death, burial, and resurrection).”

 Also, remember the words of Thomas the disciple regarding Jesus Christ, John 20:28 “My Lord and my God”. Jesus certainly did not correct Thomas’ declaration.

Let's look at the tribulation epistle of First John: 

1 John 5:20

“And we know that the Son of God (Jesus) is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in HIS (God the Father’s) Son JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS THE TRUE GOD, AND ETERNAL LIFE.”

 

1 John 5:7

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and THESE THREE ARE ONE. (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit are One God).”

Need I say more?  Well...maybe a little more...

 

The Fact Is, JESUS IS GOD!

The biblical accounts do not lie—let God be TRUE and every man a liar says the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:4. He also says in the epistle of Titus 1:2: God CANNOT LIE.  

Listen, the scripture, the written words of God, are given by the inspiration of God—they are God-breathed, perfect, and Holy (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).  When you put your trust in the words of God, you can be sure it is the absolute truth.  If God said it, you'd better believe it.  Therefore, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is in fact GOD.

Jesus Christ had to be God or His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). 

A simply created human being, which Jesus would be if He were not God, could not possibly pay the everlasting penalty required for sin to satisfy the justice of the true, righteous, just, and Holy God. Thus, only the sinless God of Heaven could pay for the countless sins of the entirety of mankind; past, present, and future (2 Corinthians 5:21); die on the cross of Calvary, shed His precious crimson blood, be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), demonstrating His victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Is Jesus God? Yes. Jesus declared Himself to be God in so many instances and His followers believed Him to be God just the same. 

God's provision of salvation from eternal damnation only works if Jesus is God.  

In the words of the Apostle Peter, one of the twelve apostles who walked with Christ during His earthly ministry:

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 SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST:”

I hope this has been a blessing to you.

Grace and Peace, 

Brother Michael

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