Compelling Biblical Evidence Proves That Jesus Christ Is God!

“… What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
(Mark 4:41)

My purpose in this Bible study is to show you, that it can be proven through the scriptures, that without doubt Jesus Christ is God.


Bible Study Synopsis

The Testimony Of John The Baptist - John was the “voice in the wilderness” (John 1:22-24, Isaiah 40:3) who prepared the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. John knew that Jesus was preferred before him because He was before him. (John 1:15,27) even though Jesus was physically born after him. John referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

The Testimony Of Jesus Christ - Jesus referred to Himself as the “I AM” which was the name that God Himself used when He spoke to Moses out of the burning bush (John 8:56-59, Exodus 3:13-14). The Jews sought to stone Jesus because they thought that He was guilty of blasphemy (John 8:59, Leviticus 24:16). Jesus claimed to be the First and the Last (Revelation 1:11,17-18,2:8) which is a name that God claims for Himself (Isaiah 44:6). Jesus also claimed to be the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8,11) and the Almighty (Revelation 1:8).

Many inferences can then be made about Jesus Christ as we examine scripture with scripture. Since we know that the Word of God which was made flesh (John 1:14) spoke of Jesus Christ then we also know that Jesus Christ is the Word who created all things (John 1:3). Consider the fact that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) and that the Word who is Jesus Christ was also there in the beginning (John 1:2). We will then naturally conclude that Jesus Christ is God. We learn through Isaiah the prophet that God made all things alone and by Himself (Isaiah 44:24) which is in perfect agreement with John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:12-16. If God did everything alone and by Himself it lays to rest those within the cults who insist that God created Jesus Christ and then used Jesus Christ to create everything else.

The Works Of Jesus Christ - The works that Jesus Christ did during His time on earth are more than ample proof that Jesus Christ is God. Jesus cast demons out of the possessed, He healed the sick, He had power over nature, He raised the dead , He forgave sins, causing His enemies to say “… who can forgive sins, but God only?” (Mark 2:7). Jesus also raised Himself from the dead.


The Testimony Of John The Baptist

John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias, a Jewish priest, and his wife Elizabeth. John was born to this couple after they had been without children for many years. John was born exactly as promised to Zacharias by the angel Gabriel. (Luke 1:5-25) The scriptures also tell us that John would be filled with the Holy Ghost and that he would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And that he would go forth in the “spirit and power of Elias (Elijah) … to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). It is not surprising that John the Baptist attracted the attention of multitudes. Many people wanted to know who he was. The Pharisees, a Jewish group, sent people to question him:

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias (Isaiah). And they which were sent were of the Pharisees (John 1:22-24).

Please keep in mind that John was questioned by the people because they wanted to know if he was in fact the promised Christ (Messiah) or if he was some other prophet (John 1:19-21). John responded to their inquiry by quoting from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Here John makes a very revealing statement not only about his own identity, but the true identity of Jesus Christ also.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our GOD (Isaiah 40:3).

John let them know that he was that “voice in the wilderness” that the prophet Isaiah had spoken about. Now it is obvious that the voice was representative of a person with a message and the message was this:

- to prepare the way of the Lord
- to make straight … a highway for our God

So given the fact that John identified himself as THAT “voice in the wilderness” we can say without question that John was preparing the way for the Lord God.

The Hebrew word for Lord that is used in this verse is YHWH

The Hebrew word for God that is used here is ELOHIYM

We also know from the contents of the New Testament that John the Baptist was the very one who prepared the way for Jesus Christ. So we can rightly say, without shame and without fear, that the titles of Lord and God most definitely apply to Jesus Christ.

Here is another testimony from John regarding the deity of Jesus Christ:

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water (John 1:29-31).

In this passage of scripture John identifies Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, and the one who came to take away the sin of the world. John also declares that Jesus was preferred before him because he was before him. It is most interesting when you look at the gospel account in Luke and find that Jesus was born at least six months AFTER John was born. (Luke 1:34-37). So we can conclude that John knew full well, by the Spirit of God, that Jesus Christ existed long before He was incarnated as a human being on this earth.

The topic in this study is of utmost importance. The claim that Jesus Christ is God is more than a mere theological debate between those who endorse the position of His deity (divinity) and those who do not. Why? Because if it can be proven through the scriptures (and it can) that Jesus Christ is in fact God, then we must take a closer look not only at the words that Jesus spoke while He walked this earth but also at the words that the Lord spoke to the children of Israel in the Old Testament. We can learn a great deal when we truly understand that this Christ whom we know as Lord was the very same eternal Lord who created all things, and who came to this earth and partook of our own human nature.


The Testimony Of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ: He is the “I AM”
It has been said very often by those who do not believe that Jesus Christ is in fact God, that He never made that claim for Himself. That is not true. In the New Testament book of John we can read the following scriptures.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. Then took they up STONES to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by (John 8:56-59).

I highlighted the words of Jesus Christ in red letters to make it easier to see when He is speaking. In this passage of scripture Jesus was in a confrontation with the Jewish religious people, and He told them that He Himself was the “I AM.”

I would like you to note that His enemies took up stones to throw at Jesus, which means that they wanted to kill him. The reason that they did that was because they thought that he had committed blasphemy in declaring Himself to be the “I AM” and that he was “living” before Abraham ever existed. The Old Testament book of Leviticus shows us the reason for their actions:

And he that BLASPHEMETH the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly STONE HIM: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he BLASPHEMETH the name of the LORD, shall be put to death (Leviticus 24:16).

This shows us that his enemies knew full well what Jesus was declaring when he claimed the name “I AM” for Himself. This also shows us that Jesus most certainly made His deity clear on different occasions. What was Jesus trying to tell those who were in opposition to Him? Jesus was telling them that He was alive long before Abraham ever existed.

There are millions of people who only see Jesus Christ as a person who was born about two thousand years ago, lived a short life, did some good things and then died. The purpose of this Bible study is to show you the reader that Jesus Christ is more than a man. He is part of the eternal triune Godhead. When Jesus used the words I AM, He was using the very same words that were used by God when He spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. Moses was intrigued by that burning bush when it was not consumed, and when he approached the bush this is what happened:

And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God (Exodus 3:5-6).

The voice that spoke out of that burning bush identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses was afraid to even look upon God. The point that I want to make here is that it was God who spoke out of that burning bush. Further down in that very same chapter we find the following:

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 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 (Exodus 3:13-14 ).

Here we see that God told Moses that His name was “I AM THAT I AM” and that was what Moses was to tell the children of Israel. Am I trying to say that Jesus Christ was the very same person that spoke to Moses out of that burning bush? Yes, that is exactly what I am trying to say and there is further proof in the scriptures to make that point.


Jesus Christ: He Is The First And The Last

Now I would like to go to the new Testament book of Revelation to further prove the deity of Jesus Christ.In the following verse we have the words of the RISEN JESUS CHRIST, and He declares that He is in truth, the FIRST and the LAST!

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I AM the FIRST and the LAST: I AM he that LIVETH and WAS DEAD; and, behold, I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE, Amen; and have the keys of HELL and of DEATH (Revelation 1:17-18).

In this scripture verse John listens as the risen Christ declares Himself to be the FIRST and the LAST. Not only that, but He tells John that He was DEAD but now He is ALIVE forevermore! I do not think that the LORD could have made His deity any clearer than that. We all know that it was Jesus Christ who was slain for our sins and who rose from the dead. The title of the FIRST and the LAST is a title that is unique to God and Him alone, and here the glorified Christ claims it for Himself. Let’s take a look in the Old Testament to see how it is used.

Thus saith the LORD the KING of ISRAEL, and his REDEEMER the LORD of hosts; I AM the FIRST, and I AM the LAST; and beside me THERE IS NO GOD. (Isaiah 44:6).

In the book of Isaiah we learn that the Lord is the King of Israel and also calls Himself the FIRST and the LAST. There are not several FIRST and LAST’s but only ONE. Not only that but this verse tells us that there is no other God beside Him. If Jesus called Himself the FIRST and the LAST then the title of GOD belongs to Him.

Jesus Christ: He Is The Alpha And Omega

Jesus Christ: He Is The Almighty

Back in the first chapter of Revelation we see that the First and the Last is also the Alpha and Omega “… I am Alpha and Omega, the FIRST and the LAST…” (Revelation 1:11). When we look back at verse eight we find out that the Alpha and Omega is called the Almighty:

I AM ALPHA and OMEGA, the beginning and the ending, saith the LORD, which is, and which was, and which is to come, THE ALMIGHTY (Revelation 1:8).

So we learned in this first chapter of Revelation that Jesus Christ is:

- The First and the Last
- The Alpha and Omega
- The Almighty
- The One who was dead but is now alive forevermore
- He holds the keys of Hell and Death
- He is the one which is, which was, and which is to come

In chapter two of Revelation the fact that the FIRST and the LAST was dead is mentioned again:

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the FIRST and the LAST, which was DEAD, and is ALIVE; (Revelation 2:8)

And in the last chapter of that book and the Bible itself it tells us this:

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I AM ALPHA and OMEGA, the beginning and the end, the FIRST and the LAST (Revelation 22:12-13).

The Alpha and Omega, who we have now learned is Jesus Christ, is the very one who will judge every man on the last day. He is the one who is coming again.


Jesus Christ: He Is The Creator Of All Things

I want to leave you with some scripture references to study regarding the attributes of Jesus Christ.

In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD. The same was in the beginning with GOD. ALL THINGS were made BY HIM; and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1-3).

In the scripture passage above we learn that the Word is a Person. That Person was WITH God, WAS God, and ALL things were made by that same Word. The Word in this passage is describing the Person of Jesus Christ. This can be proven by the passage of scripture below.

And the WORD 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. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but GRACE and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:14-17)

This passage tells us that this very same Word was made FLESH, which means that this Word took on a physical body and became a human being. That’s what happened when Christ was born of the Jewish virgin Mary in Bethlehem, fulfilling a prophecy of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14). It also tells us that He was the only begotten of the Father, and the same One that John the Baptist declared existed before He ever did. The bottom line is that this Word is describing the eternal Son of God and the One that has always been with the Father in Heaven. If you take a look at the very first verse in the Bible you will find this:

In the beginning GOD created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

The Hebrew word for God here is the word ELOHIYM which is the plural form of the word God, and within that Godhead was the person of Christ. A little further down in that chapter we find this:

And GOD said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So GOD created man in HIS OWN IMAGE, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:26-27).

In the passage above we learn that God used the words “…Let US make man in OUR image…” which is quite interesting. Who was God talking to? The cults will try to explain this verse away by telling you that God was talking to the angels. That argument falls to the ground because the passage tells us that God created man in HIS own image, with no mention of angels anywhere. Then the cults will tell you that God first created Jesus and then Jesus created everything else. But if you take a look in the book of Isaiah you will find a verse that refutes that way of thinking:

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that MAKETH ALL THINGS; that stretcheth forth the heavens ALONE; that spreadeth abroad the earth BY MYSELF; (Isaiah 44:24)

The Bible tells us that the Lord made “ALL THINGS” and that He did this “ALONE” and “BY MYSELF” thus refuting another attack against the deity of Jesus Christ. In the passage below we see that the Father Himself referred to the Son as God, and as the one who laid the foundation of earth and heaven.

But unto the SON he saith, Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore GOD, even thy GOD, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of THINE HANDS: (Hebrews 1:8-10)


The Works Of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ Cast Demons Out Of People

Luke 4:31-36: Jesus cast a demon out of a man in the synagogue. The demons recognized Christ as the “holy one of God”.

Luke 4:41: Jesus cast demons out of many. The demons knew He was the Christ (Messiah).

Mark 5:1-20: Jesus cast a legion of demons out of a man who had been possessed for many years. The demons recognized Jesus to be “the Son of the most high God”. The demons asked if they could enter into a herd of swine after they were cast out. Jesus allowed this and when they entered the swine who then charged into the sea and drowned themselves.


Jesus Christ Commanded “Mother Nature” To Obey HIM

Mark 4:35-41: Jesus rebuked a raging storm at sea with three words “Peace, be still”. The wind ceased and there was great calm.

Jesus Christ Commanded Dead People To Come Back To Life

Luke 7:11-17: Jesus raises a young man from the dead as the man was being carried in a funeral procession.

John 11:39-45: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead after Lazarus was dead and stinking for four days.

Jesus Christ Healed All Sorts Of Diseases

Mark 7:33: Jesus healed a deaf and dumb man.

Mark 8:23: Jesus healed a blind man.

Matthew 8:14: Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law.

Matthew 9:2: Jesus healed a paralyzed man.

Luke 17:12: Jesus healed ten lepers.

Jesus Christ Forgave People Of Their Sins

Mark 2:1-12: Jesus had the power to forgive sins.

Jesus Christ Was Worshiped By Others

John 9:35-38: Jesus was worshiped by a blind man that He healed.


REVIEW
We return to the question “Is Jesus Christ God?” We can affirmatively answer with a resounding YES to that question. We have seen through the use of the scriptures that:

Jesus Christ Is the Lord God whom John the Baptist prepared the way for (Isaiah 40:3, John 1:22-24).

Jesus Christ is the “I AM” who was alive before Abraham ever existed, and the same God who spoke to Abraham out of the burning bush (John 8:58, Exodus 3:13-14).

Jesus Christ is the First and the Last (Revelation 1:11,17,18, 2:8, Isaiah 44:6).

Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8,11).

Jesus Christ was the one who was dead but is now alive forevermore (Revelation 1:17-18,2:8).

Jesus Christ is the one who is coming to judge all (Revelation 22:12-13).

Jesus Christ is the creator of ALL things (John 1:1-3, Genesis 1:1,26-27, Hebrews 1:8-10, Isaiah 44:24).

Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world and was raised from the dead just like He said He would. The words of the apostle Thomas also declare the deity of Christ:

The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name (John 20:25-31).

AUDIO: IS JESUS CHRIST GOD?

TWO PART VIDEO: IS JESUS CHRIST GOD?


(Article taken from: http://soulrefuge.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/compelling-biblical-evidence-proves-that-jesus-christ-is-god/)