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Did Jesus Ever Claim to be God?

Jesus is God

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There are many people who would take issue with traditional Christianity’s using the Scriptures to show that Jesus claimed to be God. Modern theological criticism has done much to undermine traditional strongholds in the faith. Some Christians and modern critics assume that Jesus actually denied that he was God. For example,

Mark 10:18 ESV And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”

Those who hold a low view of Jesus will use this Scripture to argue that Jesus denied he is God. However, this Scripture makes no such claim. All Jesus did was call the ruler of the synagogue’s statement into question. He made him attentive to what he was saying.

Another Scripture used to show Jesus is not God is John 14:28 where Jesus says, “My Father is greater than I!” How can God be greater than God? So, this Scripture is used to claim Jesus is denying he is God. But this viewpoint is obviously wrong, because of the very fact that Jesus says: “The Father is greater than I!” If Jesus were a mere man, this statement would be ridiculous in the extreme. It is a no-brainer that God is greater than man, so why would Jesus even make such a statement, unless he was revealing something else?

Philippians 2:5-6 says before he became man, the one who became Jesus was equal with God (the Father). It is because he became man that it became necessary for him to submit to God. Before becoming man, authority was not an issue. The Godhead acted as one, but as man Jesus has taken on another office, and because that office is shared with those who trust him (Revelation 3:21), that office must be placed under the authority of the Throne of God—upon which, by the way, both the Father and Son sit (Revelation 3:21; Revelation 22:1-3), showing they ultimately have equal authority and execute that authority as One God.

The fact is Jesus made no denials about his Deity, and the truth is: on several occasions he made very significant claims to Deity. Simply click on the pages below to see exactly where and how Jesus made his public claims to be God.

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3 responses to “Did Jesus Ever Claim to be God?”

  1. Pingback: Yeshua & Worship - Page 9 - Christian Forums

  2. Steve

    May 24, 2012 at 10:23

    Hebrews 2:17..He was made in EVERY WAY like his brethren….none of his brethren had a dual nature..thus this scripture proves Jesus was a human being all the way through,not part man part God.

     

  3. Ed Bromfield

    May 24, 2012 at 13:25

    Hi Steve, and thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, offering your opinion concerning Jesus. I agree in part with what you claim. Jesus was human through and through, but I disagree with you that he, even as human, was not very God. I also disagree with you concerning your choice of text to support your claim. Lets look at the context:

    Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:14-18 KJV)

    If Jesus was only human, what was he before he took upon himself flesh and blood? The context of Hebrews 2:17 is that humanity was given to him and because of this, he (by choice) took upon himself our nature (not a higher nature, such as that of angels). This implies that before he became Jesus he was neither angel or human. What was he?

     

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